GE Backs Plug-in Hybrids to the Tune of $55 Million
by Eric Leech, New York, NY 
on 11. 1.08
Photo by Lisa Williams
General Electric (GE) has announced their intentions to boost their initial $30 million investment for the manufacture of the lithium-ion battery, up to $55 million with a sixth contribution. This news makes them the single most largest corporate or personal investor involved in the production of the A123 hybrid battery system, with over 9 percent ownership in the project as of now.
GE is not just taking a backseat as a monetary donor, they have also opened their Global Research lab located in Niskayuna, NY, to help further the design of the batteries systems and their components. The news hits us as the A123 hybrid battery system loses the race against LG Chem to be the exclusive supplier of the much anticipated GM Volt. None-the-less, A123 continues to work with 18 other hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, including the Th!nk EV.
The A123 system prides itself with its much boasted advancements in nanotechnology, which provides robust power, lightweight packaging, improved safety (not prone to overheat), and a reasonable manufacturing costs. Their current goal is to provide these vehicles with at least a 40 mile range per charge, which they have deemed more than adequate for the average daily commute to work and back. They are also in the development of a new dual battery energy storage system.
GE has pledged to improve clean energy technologies over the next 5 years by doubling their current total investment in various projects from $700 million to $1.5 billion. With such large corporate profiles jumping on the bandwagon for electric, we can only hope that our future in oil dependency will be on a downward decline in the years to come.
More on hybrid battery technology
Technology of the Lithium Battery - We've Come a Long Way Baby!
Formula One Racing Meets Hybrid Technology in 2009
A Special Peek Inside Nissan's Battery R&D Laboratory
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- 7 Ways the Troubled Automotive Industry Could Change Your Car and Your Commute
- Nissan Electric Cars are Coming to Your Town!
- Will London be the World's Greenest City?
- 7 Steps to a Greener Road Trip
- For Green Travel Visit Madagascar, Home to 5 Percent of the Planet's Species
- Cut Your Summer Grilling Costs in Half With These Tips
Very cool! I'm glad there's finally some real money gonig into this - though, of course, we'll have to wait and see if there's even a General Motors in another year. Hopefully this isn't going to be too little, too late.
My the way, whoever threw the markup for this page together really screwed up the dimensions of Ms. Williams' photo. The scrunched-up aspect makes it look terrible, like nothing I would ever drive. The original pic of the car looks very nice.
Makes sense considering that PHEVs will be a huge incentive for the smart grid that GE will help build not to mention that GE will also make money indirectly from increased utility revenues.
Many Americans want low cost, fuel efficient cars.
Kei cars are a special class of cars in Japan. They are limited to an engine size of 660cc and have vehicle size, but not weight, restrictions. They are made by many different Japanese car companies and they are mature designs that are reliable, and get up to 60 mpg. They can cost less than $10,000.
If these cars were converted to hybrids, they might get 100 mpg.
However, they can't be driven in the U.S. because they can't meet U.S. crash test requirements.
I believe that adding my crumple box invention to a Kei car will allow it to pass U.S. safety requirements. Then it could be driven in the U.S.
On my website I have calculations that show that my invention can reduce the g forces from side impacts from the current 85 g standard to only 20 g's.
The invention can do better for rear impacts because the rear bumper can stick out farther than a side bumper. The length of a crumple zone is a critical factor in reducing g forces.
Some American auto companies have ties to Kei car manufacture. They could make these cars.
Please help me promote this idea.
See my website www.safersmallcars.com