Phinergy's 1,100-mile range electric car using hybrid lithium-ion and aluminum-air batteries. Photo: Phinergy.

Israeli start-up Phinergy Ltd. is road testing a 1,100-mile range electric car based on a hybrid lithium-ion and aluminum-air battery system based on technology originating at Bar Ilan University and produced in Canada in collaboration with Alcoa Canada, Israel’s Globes business daily reported on Tuesday.

Founded by CEO Aviv Tzidon, Phinergy‘s battery solution offers greater capacity than Tesla Motors Inc.’s Model S electric car, which can go for 300 miles between charges, and less expensive alternatives, with ranges of about 160 miles.

Phinergy’s prototype uses the lithium-ion battery for short trips and the aluminium-air battery for longer hauls.

Globes said: “The aluminum-air technology uses oxygen naturally occurring in the air to fill its cathode. Aluminum-air batteries discharge turns the metal into aluminum hydroxide, which can then be recycled to make new batteries. This makes it far lighter than liquid filled lithium-ion batteries to give the car a far greater range.”

The aluminum battery has to be replaced every few months, but its components are recyclable. Alcoa Canada partnered with Phinergy to produce the batteries, which were manufactured in Canada.

Globes said the company successfully road tested the prototype in Canada last week.

Watch the Phinergy prototype in action: