Hybrid News

Not another fuel cell vehicle

The hydrogen economy. For decades that was Detroit’s mantra. Why worry about trying to increase fuel economy when gas was cheap and fuel cell vehicles were just around the corner, they argued. After decades of delays, the success of the Toyota Prius, and battery development breakthroughs, most have come to favor the plug-in revolution, rather than the hydrogen revolution. While hydrogen might make sense one day, battery-powered electrification makes more sense today.

But does plug-in electrification make enough sense today?

No one has yet proven that the safe, reliable and cost-effective mass production of battery technology for plug-ins is viable. Likewise, most lithium is mined in only a few places in the world, and there is much potential for supply and demand conflicts. Current NiMH technology, found in today’s hybrid vehicles, is even more problematic for wide scale adoption.

None of this should be used as an excuse to limit efforts towards electrification. However, it does beg the question of whether electrification is enough, at least for today. Hence, isn′t a push towards much smaller and lighter vehicles, for instance, also very important? Ultimately, shouldn′t the revolution of the automobile be about much more than just what powers an automobile?

Original post by Dahcredyns

NiMH-only until fourth gen Prius?

Due to costs and reliability concerns, Toyota has decided that the third generation Prius will never use lithium-ion batteries during its lifetime. Instead, the third generation of the Hybrid Synergy Drive will continue to use NiMH batteries - at least for the Prius - until at least the fourth generation Prius according to an unconfirmed report.

Toyota, according to the report, still plans to use lithium in the future. Also, Toyota has hinted at the possibility of lithium-powered Lexus hybrid vehicles. Thus, considering the production increases expected for the 2010 Prius, perhaps it’s just not the right platform to validate lithium technology.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Bigger impact: $19,000 hybrid or $30,000 plug-in?

A while back I was reading about how EnerDel was increasing its battery producing capabilities in expectation of some new lithium-ion contracts. Essentially, EnerDel will have the ability to produce enough batteries for 45,000 electric vehicles per year, or 450,000 hybrid electric vehicles. For weeks now, these numbers have been churning in my head.

Then, on the eve of the LA Auto Show, Nissan CEO Carol Ghosn told CNBC that he believed that by 2016, the combined auto industry would be able to make 10 percent of the US fleet electric.

Well, using those EnerDel numbers, if there are enough batteries to convert 10 percent of conventional vehicles into electric vehicles, then there would be enough batteries to convert 100 percent of conventional vehicles into hybrid vehicles.

Which path is more productive? Are some automakers focusing on EVs because it delays a fast, massive change, while offseting the fuel economy of CAFE-killing guzzlers?

Original post by Dahcredyns

All about the battery

GM is on life support. Without government money, bankruptcy is inevitable. Yet, GM has made it clear that not only is work on Chevy Volt development ongoing, but that more resources and money are being put into the Volt - the icon of GM’s future.

Still, the most critical element of the Volt’s success - the lithium-ion battery - is dependent upon technologies not wholly owned by GM. Ultimately, the battery supplier is almost just as important as anything GM is doing.

Isn′t it, therefore, reasonable to assume that Volt suppliers might proceed cautiously and slowly until the viability of GM is guaranteed?

Original post by Dahcredyns

Shortages, costs and environmental concerns

Even before the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid vehicles hit the road, questions continue to mount regarding the viability of lithium to power these new vehicles. Some have questioned lithium supplies. Some have questioned long term costs.

Essentially, if demand outpaces supply for many years, economies of scale won’t bring lithium costs down. Instead, the competition for these supplies might increase the costs of lithium batteries. And it isn’t just cars, but a rapidly growing electronics industry is also sucking up these supplies. Some are already speculating that lithium will lead to significant political tensions between South America and the US.

And, lately, environmental concerns have also been raised. Check out CNET’s latest article for more.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Panasonic to acquire Sanyo

Today, Panasonic develops batteries for Toyota’s hybrid cars. Tomorrow, it will also develop batteries for the hybrids of Ford, Honda, and VW with its acquisition of Sanyo.

“The top officials of the two companies have also agreed in their meeting that Sanyo’s management independence will be respected, said the sources, adding the corporate and brand names will be maintained…Panasonic would secure a dominant global market share in the lithium-ion battery business and would obtain the photovoltaic cell business by acquiring Sanyo.”

Source: GreenCarCongress

Original post by Dahcredyns

A123Systems still in it?

According to a number of sources, GM has picked LG Chem and Compact Power to develop the lithium-ion batteries for the Chevy Volt, although GM is not officially confirming this report.

Nonetheless, the same sources also report that GM will continue to work with ﹣Systems on future battery developments. Apparently, the Volt deal might not be purely about technology either, but the willingness of suppliers to share warranty costs.

Furthermore, a majority of the Volt prototypes currently use LG Chem batteries and GM has been happy with those batteries thus far.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Made in America

About a month ago, when Chrysler announced its new plug-in vehicles, it seemed hard to believe that Chrysler might be as close to plug-ins as GM and the Chevy Volt. But there are now a few tantalizing details about the batteries powering Chrysler’s ENVI, or electric drive initiative, vehicles that should spark any hybrid fan’s interest.

Chrysler’s batteries were developed in coordination with GE under a DOE grant, and the batteries took a slightly different path than other lithium batteries, using two chemistry’s rather than one - one for power and one for energy.

Along with $55 million dollars, GCG is reporting GE has also conveyed this battery research to ﹣Systems, a company of which GE now owns 9 percent. Aside from providing batteries for many Toyota Prius conversions, A123 also developed lithium batteries for Volt testing.

This dual lithium chemistry could be the key to the widespread concerns regarding lithium longevity, especially in hybrid cars. Hopefully, this isn’t just pre-IPO hype.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Filed under: EV/Plug-in

It’s looking increasingly likely that plug-in vehicles will not entirely bring America energy independence, at least not in terms of energy storage. The fact that American business over the last couple of years seems to have largely given up on manufacturing in favor of being a service economy means that we will continue to depend on the likes of Japan and China for our battery needs. The latest company to chase the potential bonanza represented by plug-in vehicles is Toshiba. The consumer electronics company plans to spend $194 million to expand production of its super charge ion batteries (SCiB) to 3 million cells per month in 2010. That’s an increase from the current 150,000 cells per month. The goal is to capture a significant chunk of the market for electric and plug-in hybrid batteries. Toshiba’s SCiB cells use a lithium titanate chemistry similar to those from American company Altairnano, although it’s not known if the Japanese company uses a similar nano-particle construction technique. The titanate batteries are more stable than the metal oxide batteries used in most consumer electronics making them safer and able to withstand higher charge rates. However, they have a lower energy density, reducing potential range. Charge rates are also limited by the charging infrastructure, meaning most users won′t be able to achieve the fast charge capabilities of the battery.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req’d]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Will be Hyundai’s first full hybrid

In 2010, Hyundai will finally begin selling hybrid cars in the US. The Hyundai Sonata is scheduled to be the first hybrid to hit US shores.

More interesting, Hyundai plans to sell the Sonata hybrid as a lithium-powered hybrid vehicle that should increase fuel economy by 70 percent. LG Chem will provide the batteries.

Hyundai plans to sell 50,000 Sonata hybrids in the first year, but the automaker wants to quickly ramp up hybrid production to 500,000 hybrids - including other hybrid models - per year by 2018 according to AutoWeek.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Hymotion lithium battery pack in Prius

Tien Duong of the U.S. Department of Energy told a conference at the ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY that costs and life of lithium batteries are still a major obstacle to cost-effective plug-in hybrid vehicles.

“Life means 10 years, plus. For hybrids we know (their batteries) last 10 years plus. For the PHEV (plug-in electric vehicle), we don’t know,” Duong said.

“One of the phenomenons that cuts short the life of the battery is power. You may have a lot of energy, but if you run out of power, that’s no good,” he said.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Battery replacements in the warranty

Thus far, whenever GM discusses the ongoing lithium ion battery tests for the Chevy Volt, it’s all sunshine. Yet, GM is also assuming that many Volts will need to have their lithium battery packs replaced while under warranty. But, no worries, lithium costs will quickly come down, at least that’s GM’s position, but is GM assuming too much, or demonstrating bold leadership?

Finish: 2 battery packs for every Volt

Original post by Dahcredyns

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid

Battery-powered cars have a lot to recommend them, but they still have one major flaw - the batteries! Compared to almost any other energy storage solution, even the best of today’s electrochemical batteries still have very low energy density and very high cost. Every major car manufacturer is pursuing electrically-driven vehicles with lithium ion batteries as a solution to the problem of CO₂ emissions and oil consumption. They all are aware of the fact that virtually all of these cars will be money losers for at least the first few years until production volumes are ramped up. The presumption is that as more batteries are made in larger volumes the price will come down to a point where the cars might become profitable.

But is this a realistic assumption? It might not be if extracting lithium from the ground becomes increasingly expensive in the same manner that oil is from older fields and other unconventional sources. With dramatically increasing demand for the material, it becomes a real possibility that the price of batteries may never come down. Recycling lithium from depleted batteries is apparently also far more expensive than virgin material. There is of course the possibility of new material breakthroughs that would eliminate the need for lithium. There are also possibilities like silicon nano-wires or ultra capacitors that could dramatically increase energy storage density and reduce the size and requirement for materials like lithium. The only thing we know for sure right now is that we don’t know. All this just goes to show the need for pursuing multiple parallel paths for energy diversity, because there doesn’t appear that any one solution will be sufficient.

[Source: Autoblog]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Or too big of a bet?

Today, Toyota is dominating the the hybrid scene, and while Toyota is moving towards lithium, it’s also moving beyond lithium - at least in the lab. Then again, lithium has yet to make its way out of the lab. So, does that mean anything? And, like Toyota, Honda will also embrace NiMH technology as lithium is developed.

While most other automakers will also roll out some NiMH-powered hybrid vehicles, none have offered nearly as aggressive hybrid production numbers as Honda or Toyota - not until lithium.

Just a decade ago, most automakers didn’t want to embrace hybrids or electric vehicles, as fuel cell vehicles - the next big thing then - were just around the corner. Isn’t this lithium or bust mentality the same kind of eggs in one basket mind set that has US automakers struggling for survival?

Original post by Dahcredyns

Hymotion lithium-ion battery pack from A123Systems

An organization affiliated with the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is working with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co and other Japanese companies to develop common standards for the lithium-ion batteries that will soon power various types of hybrid cars and electric vehicles.

Together with the Tokyo Electric Power Co the organization is hoping to “come up with a draft of the standards covering testing and charging methods, vehicle safety and other areas,” according to recent reports, which the group hopes to pitch to the International Organization for Standardization.

Considering the costs associated with oil dependency, especially foreign dependency recently, should the government be taking a far more active role in the electrification of the automobile?

Original post by Dahcredyns