A method for charging a metal-air battery pack at the maximum possible rate while maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration is provided, thereby minimizing the risks associated with generating oxygen during the charging cycle.

A system and method for mitigating the effects of a thermal event within a non-metal-air battery pack is provided in which the hot gas and material generated during the event is directed into the metal-air cells of a metal-air battery pack. The metal-air cells provide a large thermal mass for absorbing at least a portion of the thermal energy generated during the event before it is released to the ambient environment. As a result, the risks to vehicle passengers, bystanders, first responders and property are limited.

Disclosed herein are materials for use in battery separators. They include copolymers of a divinylbenzene and one or both of the monomers below (non-linked and linked). R is an n-alkylene group, and n is a positive integer. The copolymer made be made from tertiary amine monomers that are converted to quaternary amines. One battery includes a zinc anode, a silver cathode, and a tri-layer separator. The inner layer uses the linked monomer, and the outer layers use the non-linked monomer.

##STR00001##

Disclosed herein are materials for use in battery separators. They include copolymers of a divinylbenzene and one or both of the monomers below (non-linked and linked). R is an n-alkylene group, and n is a positive integer. The copolymer made be made from tertiary amine monomers that are converted to quaternary amines. One battery includes a zinc anode, a silver cathode, and a tri-layer separator. The inner layer uses the linked monomer, and the outer layers use the non-linked monomer.

##STR00001##

Disclosed herein are materials for use in battery separators. They include copolymers of a divinylbenzene and one or both of the monomers below (non-linked and linked). R is an n-alkylene group, and n is a positive integer. The copolymer made be made from tertiary amine monomers that are converted to quaternary amines. One battery includes a zinc anode, a silver cathode, and a tri-layer separator. The inner layer uses the linked monomer, and the outer layers use the non-linked monomer. ##STR00001##

Disclosed herein are materials for use in battery separators. They include copolymers of a divinylbenzene and one or both of the monomers below (non-linked and linked). R is an n-alkylene group, and n is a positive integer. The copolymer made be made from tertiary amine monomers that are converted to quaternary amines. One battery includes a zinc anode, a silver cathode, and a tri-layer separator. The inner layer uses the linked monomer, and the outer layers use the non-linked monomer. ##STR00001##