At the recent Electrification Experience symposium in California, GM and ABB demonstrated a “community energy storage system” made from five used Chevy Volt batteries. The unit is designed to provide 25 kW of power for two hours, enough to power 3 to 5 average American homes (a few dozen of these babies would come… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Motiv Power Systems"
A123 finally runs out of juice and files for bankruptcy
Battery maker A123 Systems announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and agreed to sell its automotive business assets to Johnson Controls. Once considered a promising startup with innovative technology, the company took a huge hit in March, when it was forced to recall a batch of defective batteries destined for Fisker’s Karma… Read more »
AllCell uses phase change materials to prevent Li-ion thermal runaway propagation
AllCell Technologies received a new US patent covering the use of phase change materials (PCM) to prevent thermal runaway propagation in electrochemical devices such as lithium-ion batteries. AllCell has developed a proprietary composite material composed of a conductive matrix impregnated with various PCMs that extends the cycle life of lithium-ion cells and can prevent the… Read more »
Find your niche: Balqon Corporation targets short haul drayage tractors
Electric vehicles (EVs) have their partisans and detractors. Supporters see the be-all and end-all transportation solution, while opponents argue the technology is too young. Somewhere between the two extremes lies the truth: today’s commercially available EVs have strengths and weaknesses compared to internal combustion engine (ICEs). The strong points include lower operating costs and lack… Read more »
The state of EV charging: more questions than answers
As you may have guessed, we at Charged believe that electricity is the best way to power our vehicles in the post-fossil fuel era. Compared to other contending technologies (biofuels, natural gas, hydrogen), electricity is the most efficient, and our best shot to be truly sustainable. However, there’s a much more immediate reason why automakers… Read more »
It all adds up: extending EV range through efficiency increases
Want to increase the range of your EV without adding capacity to the costly battery pack? Optimize. In parallel with global research efforts to improve the power density of batteries, many are looking for new ways to use less energy per mile. Mitsubishi’s New Motor Mitsubishi Electric is hard at work redefining what a… Read more »
Ford and Dow to work together to bring carbon fiber to mainstream vehicles
Ford’s goal is to reduce the weight of new cars and trucks by up to 750 pounds by the end of the decade, and carbon fiber components could be a big part of their strategy.
Pike report assesses 10 leading lithium battery firms
Lithium ion batteries – we EV boosters love ‘em (though we wish they could be a bit lighter and a lot cheaper). EV party-poopers hate ‘em, telling anyone who will listen that they’re bound to explode, stop working after a year or two, or maybe even channel mind-controlling signals from hippy Communist aliens. Everyone agrees… Read more »
Q&A with Sidney Goodman of Better Place
A founding member of Better Place, Sidney has been with the company since before its official launch in 2007.
Sheetak and Delphi to develop battery-saving ACs for EVs
Sheetak Inc. announced that it has secured a $4.7 million contract with the Department of Energy to develop a thermal energy storage system for EVs.