Next Generation Car Batteries

This is hopeful - Nissan, NEC to Set Electric-Car Batteries for 09 per the WSJ. The goal being to develop batteries that allow a economical electric car. The Prius currently uses Nickel Hydride, which does not have the same energy capacity of Lithium Ion. The problem with Lithium Ion is they run hot, so they have caught fire - Dell, Sony, etc... Supposedly the new design from the NEC Nissan joint venture does not have this issue.