"ExxonMobil Chemical showcased a new film technology platform for hybrid and electric vehicle batteries at the 23rd Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS-23) in Anaheim, Calif. on December 2-5, 2007."

There it is in the first paragraph; they are positioning to become the supplier for a lot of folks who want the cutting edge of battery tech. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em...Exxon knows this is coming and they are adjusting to fit. It's like GM's moves to hydrogen energy cells; they are positioning to keep selling a proprietary tech that you can't service or provide fuel for (YET; I have seen a biomass hydrogen generator coming on the market). Produce for the new marketplace or perish...

Posts like this don't let me take treehugger seriously.

Notice the critical material is made by a subsidiary of the chemical division, Exxon Chemical, in Asia of course.

They are probably upset that GM is not contracted for batteries with a firm they supply and area hoping to get some business with an Asian battery maker.

That, and just trying to look relevant now that the days of denial are past.

I think its important here to realize that exxon is a business. They dont fund climate change deniers because they don't believe in climate change, they do it to maintain the solvency and stability of their business. Meanwhile they invest heavily in sustainable energy technology, all while pushing for new coal fired plants and mountaintop removal. It's called betting both ends against the middle--the middle being the consumer. Either way, coal fired, wind powered, or solar, the energy companies have their assets covered. This isn't a conspiracy theory, its just good business for them to continue to be the primary energy providers far beyond the time of peak oil. Villifying them (albeit deservedly) prevents us from learning from their busines strategy in terms of what it has to say about the future of energy.

In computer companies the practice is called Vaporware - part of the Wikipedia explanation:
'vaporware may be announced by companies in order to damage the development or marketability of more real products by competitors'.
I don't think Exxon has changed its oily spots quite yet.

Separators are a vital component in a battery. If a company such as ExxonMobile wants to control battery technology going forward, the separator is an excellent place to set up a patent shop.

Does anyone recall Toshiba's super-battery about two years ago? It used a nano-structured separator eerily similar to what is presented here. Toshiba claimed that such separators increase flow between the cathode and anode, consequently improving power density and decreasing charge times one hundred fold.

I'd like to propose an alternate theory of what ExxonMobile's modus operandi is:

-Oil resources are increasingly being nationalized (Venezula, Saudi Arabia, Russia) prohibiting Exxon from accessing profitable oil fields
-To counter this assault, all Exxon can hope to do is limit U.S. demand by introducing hybrids on a large scale and then, in some way, nationalize U.S. oil production. Theoretically, Exxon could block (through political contacts) oil from gulf states, saying that said states sponsor terrorism.
-This (limiting demand, making themselves the only game in town) would allow Exxon to perpetuate its business of selling oil/gasoline to the U.S. consumer at an absurd profit.

Oh yeah, the consumer battery market is huge (multiple $billions). Why not try and make a buck there with cell phone/laptop batteries that recharge in a minute?

If Big Oil buys up the rights to battery technology, you can plan to keep your gas hog or convert a car to an EV using lead acid batteries (with a relatively short range). I don't believe an oil company will make great batteries come to market that are capable of powering vehicles like we want and need. Furthermore, I don't think the vehicle conversion industry will become truly widespread until someone figures out how to finance an EV conversion. (Try this for entertainment: Go to your bank and try borrowing $15,000.00 to modify a 1998 Saturn to an EV with a 60 mile range.)

The author has a point. These companies that have made progress akin to pulling teeth out of every consumer and government official, don't have the public's best interests in mind.

And think about it- it may be good business, but from an ethical standpoint, do these companies deserve to survive? I think they should be made to die out, if not have its leadership made an example of. Same goes for companies with similar M.O.'s, like american car companies.

The author has a point. These companies that have made progress akin to pulling teeth out of every consumer and government official, don't have the public's best interests in mind.

And think about it- it may be good business, but from an ethical standpoint, do these companies deserve to survive? I think they should be made to die out, if not have its leadership made an example of. Same goes for companies with similar M.O.'s, like american car companies. Not to mention the current administration.

I am inclined to believe Exxon is sincere about two things: one is making lots of money and the other is dominating the LiION motive power market. I think Exxon is genuine about the inevitability of hybrids but also fully aware that most internal combustion, gasoline fueled only vehicles will be on the road for at least another ten years.

They will oppose environmentalists principally because they have to spend considerable money on cleaning spills and making their infrastructure less susceptible to environmentally harmful events. They also disdain the expense of upgrading refineries and remain chronic polluters.

But if they can make money off renewables, they will be players. They had a photovoltaic company and a solar hot water heater company during the Jimmy Carter years. At the time, they had very well made and reasonably priced solar products.

Nano-polymer products could pave the way to electric cars and hydrogen technology based on solar electrolysis of water instead of using coal for hydrogen. Coal to hydrogen is high risk to the environment.

Without apologizing for Exxon, please recall that consumer demand pushes fossil fuel. Nobody forced anyone to buy a Hummer! Anyone who really wants out of the loop needs to walk or bicycle.