Plug-In

Researchers at Nanotek Instruments, Inc, and its subsidiary Angstrom Materials in Dayton, Ohio have developed a breakthrough in energy storage design which outpaces supercapacitor and battery technologies. The new devices could not only power long-range and fast charging future electric cars but also provide efficient energy storage capacity to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro. Called surface-mediated cells (SMCs), the  fundamental breakthrough behind the technology is that it isn’t actually a battery at all. The elegance of the SMC ...

BMW has recently unveiled concept versions of its upcoming i3 and i8 electric vehicles. The i3 is a subcompact hatchback, while the i8 is a sports coupe with a range-extender hybrid drive system. Intriguingly, BMW has designed the i3 with a range-extender version as an optional drivetrain. That model has been called the REx in BMW's press literature. The i3 is the fruit of the Megacity Vehicle project, which showcases BMW’s direction for the 21st century. The i8’s aerodynamic coupe form was ...

Perhaps the single greatest barrier to widespread adoption of plug-in automobiles is the time it takes to charge them.  We have looked into charging times in the past, and even with the most advanced infrastructure in place at charging stations, you are still looking at one hour or more to fully recharge your battery.  The [...]

Perhaps the single greatest barrier to widespread adoption of plug-in automobiles is the time it takes to charge them.  We have looked into charging times in the past, and even with the most advanced infrastructure in place at charging stations, you are still looking at one hour or more to fully recharge your battery.  The automobile industry (and investors), however, have not been deterred, and many have pointed to a trend in developing lower-cost, more efficient rechargeable batteries.  Lately, it seems, their ...

Hitachi, Japan's largest industrial electronics manufacturer, is devoting significant resources to capture the global car battery market.   Already, they are able to boast of the 100,000 hybrid car order that GM has placed for its lithium-ion batteries.  But, of course, that is not enough.   The Tokyo-based corporation is ramping up its capacity in order to accommodate the needs of 700,000 electric vehicles a year, a gain of 600%. The Nikkei Business Daily has estimated the expansion costs at between $200 and ...

The lithium-ion battery cell has emerged as a clear favorite with the plethora of car manufacturers who are announcing their electric ambitions. And as this demand rises, suppliers of battery technology are in a race of their own to provide high-quality, low-cost lithium-ion solutions. Several Asian firms have established dominant footholds in the industry, winning contracts with major auto companies, and they offer a formidable challenge to newer entrants: South Korea's LG Chem was the supplier chosen by GM to manufacturer batteries ...

Not to be outdone by its competitors, Volvo has announced its own hybrid electric car due in... 2012.  This would put it behind four other auto companies we're tracking that have a release date of 2010, however in return for an extra couple of years of waiting, users will have the ability to drive a plug-in with a diesel engine. The engine will release less than 50 grams/km.  of carbon dioxide emissions (using the NEDC standard).  According to Volvo, this would qualify it ...

California-based CODA Automotive unveiled a new all-electric sedan that it plans to have ready by the fall of 2010. The little-known company had not issued any prior press releases hinting at an unveiling, and there is not much information about them publically available at the moment. Their website only shows that their management team and Board of Advisors include former finance executives from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and several engineers from a variety of industries. Obscure No More It ...

In an interview with Prabhakar Patil, the Chief Executive of Compact Power, the battery maker claims that his company is on track to providing lithium-ion batteries to power GM's upcoming Volt plug-in vehicle. Despite the financial troubles of the U.S. automaker, Patil says that he has not noticed any loss of commitment, claiming that "From GM's side, it's their highest priority program."  Compact Power is a subsidiary of  LG Chem, Ltd., a South Korean battery supplier. This statement, coming from a close supplier with ...