Electric Car Revolution Only Three Years Away (Maybe)
by Tony Bosworth, Sydney, Australia 
on 06.11.07
Mitusbishi's i MiEV (i Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), will be on sale in just three years time
We could all be driving electric powered cars sooner than we thought possible as new developments in battery technology gather pace, new companies form to develop the next generation lithium-ion cells, and the imminent opening of massive new battery producing factories in Asia gets underway.
Among the latest news – leading battery maker A123Systems is planning to introduce lithium-ion cells for use in gas-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, and buses – a move that pushes one of the key technologies for alternative vehicles closer to market at a time when fuel prices are soaring.
The new lithium-ion batteries have 10 times the capacity of those now used in hybrid electric vehicles, such as Toyota’s Prius.
A123Systems has raised $102 million in funding and is one of a number of start-ups and larger battery companies competing to develop better materials and hammer out the engineering wrinkles.
General Motors and other car manufacturers are, or will, begin testing the batteries in their hybrid models and plug-in prototypes, A123Systems’ CEO David Vieau has said.
Meanwhile, over in Japan, GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation are setting-up a joint venture company to manufacture lithium-ion batteries. The partners aim to have the new company up and operating within six months.
During the first stage of development, three-billion yen will be invested to install automated mass production lines within GS Yuasa's Kyoto head office plant, capable of manufacturing 200,000 cells a year. Full-scale operations are slated to commence by 2009.
Mitsubishi plans to install the batteries in its next generation EV "i MiEV" (i Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), which it hopes to have on sale by 2010, a mere three years away.
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...in the mean time, I'll keep driving my Toyota Prius...oh...and NOT holding my breath...:)
batteries are still dirty and dangerous if not recylcled/disposed of properly
so whats the footprint of making the EVs now compared to a normal vechicle. what impacts will be generated from producing the chemical battery run car?
im all for it as its a step forward, and putting all our pollution out of smoke stacks is more effiecent, shifts smog, and an easier point to eventually clean or replace with other sources. no to mention capabilities to charge from at home renewable sources.
as long as the things arent leased!
back to the future ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_RAV4_EV
Car companies should stop lying to us.
it's been made, it was effective and pratical.
and NiMh batteries won't burst in fire like the Li-ion batteries (AND they are cheaper to built if you don't include the blockade made by the patent holder : Texaco)
check out a video on youtube about a123 systems batteries they are eco friendly and do not explode when punctured.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A9ayuFBDrSg
ps Ian Bruce is part of a company called Venture Vehicles they are making an all electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle with 100+mpg!!
www.flytheroad.com
" A123 SYSTEMS BATTERIES ARE GREAT!"
Can you qualify that statement?
A thought occured to me, as I read the label "Household charger plug" on an image of what appears to be an electric city-car, that there is a practical paradox with the EV market. The most obvious buyers for EV's, urban residents, are the least likely to have access to power for charging at home, as they are more likely to be subject to on-street or lot parking.
What will be the environment impact for the disposal of older/damaged batteries? How can these batteries be recycled and not end up as a larger problem with regard to toxic waste, etc.
I keep seeing the RAV4-EV offered as an example of a viable EV, but at $42,000 MSRP it was nearly three times the price of an equivalent gasoline model. Even considering the fuel savings, the total cost of ownership significanly exceeds an equivalent gasoline model. Most people could not afford one at all without heavy government subsidies. Considering that the battery alone cost $26,000, that price probably included no profit for Toyota. And as was pointed out in the sited Wikipedia article, the battery technology is patented and cost Toyota and Panasonic a $30 million dollar judgement for using it. So who in their right mind would build such a vehicle now?
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/06/13/utilities-looking-to-re-use-hybrid-car-batteries/
I just read that PG&E in California is experimenting with using used batteries to store and release electricity for use during peak output times and when energy from green sources is unavailable.
http://blogs.business2.com/greenwombat/2007/06/photo_green_wom.html
It is obvious that some people will dish EV's any chance they get. If Mitsubishi can build it they will come. EV's have so many advantages they I can only list a few, no oil changes, extremely long life motor, no transmission with proper design, no trans axel when using in wheel motors, the list goes on and on. Battery technology has had no driving force since Edison perfected the Ni Fe until laptop computers created a need. And now that a need was created we are seeing battery technology advance.
The EV's are coming so get used to the idea.
What's to keep big oil from in a year or two when EV manufacturers get started from dropping the price of oil and gas back to a dollar a gallon, repopularizing SUV's (which most Americans prefer to drive) and in doing so killing the companies making EV's?
Is the average American intelligent enough to realize its in their best intest to get off the oil addiction?
"Big Oil" won't be dropping the price back to a dollar a gallon anytime soon - they don't have access to enough cheaply pumpable oil to do that!
Supply and demand rules - and demand in China, India, Iran, Russia, Indonesia, etc. just keeps going up!
A123 batteries are in DeWalt 32 volt power tools and Black and Decker VPX. There are folks who fly electric powered radio controlled model airplanes who have been buying the battery packs and tearing them down to build their oun packs. The A123 cells have greatly exceeded our expectations. They have been deliberately abused and hold up better than any other lithium polymere and charge and discharge faster than any lithium ion cell. They are great. There is a forum on ezonemag.com for batteries and you will find lots of info on experience with the batteries there.