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Anode Material Could Help Lithium-ion Batteries Last Longer
Researchers have developed electrodes out of porous germanium that hold more than three times as much charge as their graphite counterparts do. In theory, germanium and silicon can pack, respectively, about five and 10 times as much charge per weight as graphite does.
Sion Power Gets $50M for Lithium Sulfur Batteries
Sion Power of Tucson, Arizona just received $50 million in funding for rechargeable lithium sulfur battery technology, according to this SEC filing.
EV Battery Switch-Out is Easy as 1,2,3…In China
California-based Better Place has teamed up with China Southern Power Grid to introduce a fully automated battery switch-out operation for electric vehicles in Guangzhou, the third largest city in China. If the idea is to make recharging an EV battery just as quick and convenient as buying a tank of gasoline, this seems to be the ticket, and Better Place is confident that Chinese car buyers will go for it.
Battery Maker A123 Repairs Glitch
DETROIT—Battery maker A123 Systems Inc. is repairing a glitch in a battery pack it supplies to Fisker Automotive, which could cause an electrical short circuit, the company's CEO said in a memo to investors. A123, based in Waltham, Mass., said fewer than 50 cars were affected and fixes are under way. Fisker recently began selling its $102,000 Karma plug-in hybrid sedans in the U.S.
US: A123 Systems to supply grid battery system to Sempra Generation
On 22 December, A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate lithium ion batteries and systems, announced that it will supply an 11MW Grid Battery System (GBS) to Sempra Generation for the Auwahi Wind project in Maui, Hawaii.The advanced energy storage solution is designed to smooth variable wind power generation, which is expected to help maintain the stability to Maui's electric grid.
Apple files patent for long-lasting fuel-cell MacBook battery system
Apple has filed two patents with the US Patent and Trademark Office that suggest the electronics giant is developing hydrogen fuel-cell batteries for its MacBook lines in an attempt to use more environmentally-friendly ways to power its creations. First uncovered by AppleInsider, the pair of patents explain that the batteries would not only be better for Mother Nature, but could also last “for days or even weeks” on a single charge.
A new hybrid solar-powered battery for Marines in remote locales
Marines, especially infantry battalions that are far forward in the field, face a slew of logistical challenges. The most critical — and coincidentally, often the most challenging and expensive — is ensuring they have a reliable power source. The Office of Naval Research has developed and deployed a portable power device that aims to end the hassle and expense of buying foreign fuel (and delivering it to remote spots) to operate traditional diesel and gas generators.
Not Your Average Tree Lighting
This year, the U.S. Department of Energy showed its holiday spirit in traditional ways at its annual holiday party – with holiday cookies and punch at its downtown headquarters building. But, with a fun energy twist, Secretary Chu’s holiday tree was lit using a 150 W fuel cell instead of the local electric grid.
A123 Says Batteries for Fisker Have Potential Safety Issue
Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) -- A123 Systems Inc., the maker of batteries for electric vehicles, said it found a “potential safety issue” in batteries it supplies to Fisker Automotive Inc. A123, which also sells batteries to automakers such as General Motors Co. and Daimler AG, said hose clamps that are part of the internal cooling system of its batteries supplied to Fisker were “misaligned” and may cause coolant to leak. Such a leak could lead to an electrical short circuit, David Vieau, chief executive officer, wrote in a memo on Waltham, Massachusetts-based A123’s investor-relations website.
Drive On demystifies GM eAssist mild hybrid system
The General Motors eAssist very mild hybrid system helps the Chevrolet Malibu Eco and some Buick models boost their fuel economy ratings without the cost or complexity of the full-bore hybrid systems pioneered by Toyota in the Prius. Tradeoff for the simplicity and lower cost: eAssist can't generate the eye-popping mileage numbers that Prius and its ilk do.
Toyota Ends Go-It-Alone Strategy With BMW, Tesla Alliances: Cars
Toyota agreed this month to equip some Toyota cars withBBMW diesel engines, building on an earlier deal to use Tesla Motors Inc. battery packs in future electric vehicles.
How Graphene Is Helping To Build A Better Electric Car Battery
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular around the globe, but remain a niche market, due in large part to consumers’ concerns over the limited range of the vehicles — 35 miles per full 10 to 12 hour charge in the Chevrolet Volt (pictured), which uses an industry standard lithium-ion battery. Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Princeton University have a better idea: They cooked up a new form of the nano-wonder material graphene for a new type of battery, the lithium-air battery, and set the highest energy storage capacity ever reported, 15,000 milliamp hours per gram (mAh/g).
Energy Storage Community Gathers to Generate Capitol Hill Support
The Electricity Storage Association (ESA) was joined Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), FERC Commissioner John Norris, NY-BEST staff and leading energy storage companies from across the country, at a Capitol Hill briefing to advocate for public policies that help spur energy storage innovation. The briefing was held to garner support for and raise awareness about federal legislation recently introduced by Wyden, along with Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- the STORAGE Act of 2011 (S. 1845), an investment tax credit (ITC) for energy storage projects.
Ten Predictions For The Electric Vehicle Market In 2012
The range of choices in plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) will become more diversified in 2012 with the introduction of the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the Ford Focus EV, the Tesla Model S, the Volvo V-70, and others, according to a white paper from Pike Research. However, throughout 2012, EV and battery manufacturers in the U.S. will continue to face scrutiny due to the "Solyndra Effect." That is, clean technology companies that have received federal funding will remain under the media microscope.
Japan's Sony generates power from paper
An employee of Sony demonstrates a new bio battery, generated from the cellilose of recycle papers, powering a fan (L) at the Eco-Products exhibition in Tokyo. Japanese electronics giant Sony on Thursday revealed technology that generates electricity from shredded paper.Japanese electronics giant Sony on Thursday revealed technology that generates electricity from shredded paper.
Global Military Fuel Cell Market 2010-2014
TechNavio's analysts forecast the Global Military Fuel Cell market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 113.5 percent over the period 2010–2014. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the functional benefits of military fuel cell. The Global Military Fuel Cell market has also been witnessing the development of codes and standards. However, the lack of understanding about military fuel cell technology could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.
Eos Energy Storage Looking to Disrupt Grid-Scale Batteries With Zinc-Air
Eos Energy Storage Looking to Disrupt Grid-Scale Batteries With Zinc-Air. Eos Energy Storage believes it might have the disruptive technology for grid-scale energy storage and has just raised a bit of funding to prove it.Many energy experts (though not all) believe the piece missing from a reliable, renewable-energy-laden grid is energy storage. It's routinely called the "holy grail" of the grid and like the grail, exists mostly in myth, and in energy storage's case, in utility trials.
Report: Electric Vehicles May Impact Distribution Equipment
Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to accelerate strongly over the next few years, and along with that increase will come rapid growth in the deployment of charging equipment for the vehicles, according to a report from Pike Research. Two years from now, more than 80 different models of plug-in EVs are expected to be available across the globe, and by 2017, more than 5.1 million will be sold globally.
Senators Call For Hearing On Grid Reliability
Following a series of major power outages that have left millions of New Englanders without power in recent years, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators from the region led by Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., have called for a hearing to review the nation's electric grid reliability standards.
Dow Announces Approval of Joint Venture with Ube for Developing Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries
MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced that its 50-50 joint venture with Ube Industries, Ltd., Advanced Electrolyte Technologies LLC, has secured all necessary regulatory approvals. The joint venture company will manufacture formulated electrolytes for lithium-ion battery cell manufacturers in the energy storage market. “This joint venture is an opportunity to bring together Ube’s electrolyte technology with Dow’s global supply network and materials science expertise to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries.” The formation of Advanced Electrolyte Technologies (AET) was first announced in July. AET plans on constructing a manufacturing facility with the capacity of producing 5,000 tons of electrolytes per year at Dow’s Michigan Operations in Midland, Michigan. Production startup for the new facility is expected in late 2012. AET also has future plans to construct manufacturing facilities in China and Europe.
New Furnace Heats Up Thermal Storage Research
In support of advanced thermal storage research, Sandia National Laboratories is testing hardware under realistic operating conditions at its National Solar Thermal Test Facility in Albuquerque, NM. The DOE-funded project works toward performance improvements for molten-salt thermal storage systems, ultimately leading to cost reductions for concentrating solar power systems.
Never Mind Solyndra: Fuel Cell Industry Growing with Government Support
Beginning in April 2009, the Department of Energy (DOE) invested $41.6 million in ARRA funding for fuel cell technologies for auxiliary power, backup power, combined heat and power, lift truck, and portable-power applications. By the end of fiscal year 2011, ARRA funding had helped to install 830 fuel cells. So has this investment had an effect on the market? Probably.
NREL Releases Report About Electric Vehicles
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have released a technical report that could help improve the performance of electric vehicles (EVs) and the efficiency of the electric utility grids that power them. The report documents a series of test procedures designed to enable engineers, designers and utilities to evaluate the performance of various EVs and hybrids to optimize how they connect with electric utility grids today and smart grids in the future.
Report: Sales Of PEVs, HEVs Expected To Jump
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) combined will represent 3.1% of worldwide auto sales by 2017, according to a report from Pike Research. Thanks to higher penetration rates in the U.S., HEVs and PEVs will account for 5.1% of total U.S. vehicle sales in 2017.
Why Boston Power Went to China
While it's normal for established technology companies to turn to low-cost Asian manufacturing, lately even very young companies have been heading east. A prominent example is Boston Power, a startup based in Westborough, Massachusetts, that's developing longer-lasting, higher-capacity lithium-ion batteries.
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