Batteries: The key to the automotive Revolution? Part 1
President Bush at Johnson ControlsJust before the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota started hyping its FT-HS hybrid concept, a next-generation hybrid produced with lithium-ion batteries. As a result of these new batteries, Toyota was able to develop a hybrid sports car capable of achieving speeds of 0 -60 in less than 4 seconds, yet using the fuel of only a 4 cylinder economy car.
Likewise, GM announced the future was electric, plug-in hybrids were coming, and lithium-ion battery contracts had been awarded. Then at NAIAS GM upped the ante and debuted the Volt plug-in hybrid concept, an auto capable of achieving up to 40 miles per charge on pure electricity and up to 150 mpg if traveling 60 miles or less between charges. Additionally, the vehicle has a range of more than 600 miles.
In both cases, lithium-ion batteries enable each of these hybrid vehicles to achieve such amazing results. Consequently, batteries are beginning to emerge as one of the most important technologies behind the automotive revolution.
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Labels: a123 systems, Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, cobasys, FT-HS hybrid, GM, johnson controls, lithium battery, NAIAS, nec, panasonic, saft, sanyo
posted by Dahcredyns at
10:40 AM
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(Rest of Story)
But lithium-ion batteries are not just for fantastic concept vehicles, such as the Volt and the FT-HS. Already, numerous and largely unconfirmed reports have claimed that the next generation Toyota Prius - also powered by lithium-ion batteries - might achieve more than 100 mpg (more on 113 mpg Prius). Even more interesting, this 100 mpg vehicle might not have to be plugged-in. Imagine, however, if a plug-in option were offered.
So, the potential of lithium-ion batteries is simply phenomenal, but who is leading the lithium revolution?
Most analysts would probably admit that American companies are lagging behind the Japanese in developing next generation automobile batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries. Japanese companies, such as NEC Lamillion Energy, Panasonic EV Energy and Sanyo have been developing such batteries for a number of years, but even Sony and Toshiba are also pursuing this next generation technology.
Yet, American companies are not simply handing this space to the Japanese.
Just a couple of weeks ago, GM announced that it had awarded contracts to develop lithium-ion batteries for its first generation of plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles to Johnson Controls and its partner Saft Advanced Power Solutions; and Cobasys and its partner A123 Systems.
Then last week, the Big 3 asked the government for help - in the form of $500 million - to develop new battery technologies. Considering that these new technologies are probably the key to hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles, $500,000 million isn't a very high amount. More important, if these next generation lithium-ion batteries can be developed for mass-production, then foreign oil dependency could be a non-issue long before fuel cells and the hydrogen economy move from myth to reality. That is worth far more than $500,000 million.
Inevitably, lithium-ion technology might just be the key to any automakers future success, or failure.
In my next part, I'll go into more detail regarding the different companies fighting for lithium-ion supremacy.
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