Lithium-Ion Batteries Boosted by Nanotech
February 11, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
A team of Rice University researchers, led by Pulickel Ajayan (pictured) have created hybrid carbon-nanotube/metal-oxide arrays as electrode material that may improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. Rice’s nanotubes are grown to look and act like coaxial conducting lines used in cables.
The coax tubes consist of a manganese oxide (MnO2) shell and a highly conductive nanotube (CNT) core. Read more
Azure Dynamics Reduces Workforce by a Quarter
January 18, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Curt Huston, Azure Dynamics chief operating officer.
Azure Dynamics Corporation has announced a 25% cut in its current workforce along with cuts in all discretionary expenses and a focus on actions to offset recent component cost increases. Azure is a developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial vehicles.
The Company also plans to focus on existing products and is actively working with its customers on potential new programs that involve sharing development costs. Read more
Chrysler Unveils Beautiful Electric Car Concept 200C EV
January 11, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The 200C EV is a plug-in hybrid sedan that uses ENVI’s Range-extended Electric Vehicle technology, and is a rolling test bed for Chrysler’s future uconnect in-car computer and communication device. It also connects directly to an iPhone, allowing you to pre-program the temperature, lock the doors, view an in-car camera remotely and track the car’s location live via GPS – all straight from the iPhone.
It uses Chrysler’s ENVI’s Range-extended Electric Vehicle technology. It has a 40-mile all-electric range, a 400-mile range with a full charge of the lithium-ion battery and a full tank, and a top speed of over 120 miles-per-hour. Read more
Mercedes-Benz Unveils Concept BlueZero at Detroit 2009
January 11, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Mercedes-Benz showed off its new Concept BlueZero at an off-site reception held before the opening of the Detroit Auto Show. The car is both an example of clean technology and a preview of the styling for the next generation Mercedes B-Class. This concept uses a sandwich floor design like the current A and B class models, and adds a modular powertrain system.
There will be three powertrain options depending on the range requirements. The BlueZero E-Cell uses a 35 kWh lithium ion battery pack to provide a 120-mile range, while the BlueZero F-Cell variant gets a 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell for a 240-mile range. The efficiency of the fuel cell version is rated at the equivalent of 81 mpg (US). Read more
Fisker Karma Has A Starting Price Of $87,900
December 3, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Here is a low-resolution peek at the Fisker ahead of an official reveal at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Again we see the production car is almost identical to the concept car, except the grille is revised for a much sexier look. Read more
Ener1 Lithium Ion Battery Prices May Halve
September 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Charles Gassenheimer, Chief Executive over at battery maker Ener1, has announced a possible 50 percent reduction in the price of their batteries. This change in price will require a huge increase in volume. Gassenheimer says they will need to have volumes in the hundreds of thousands to achieve this price drop but silver-lines that cloud by saying, “But the important point of this here is the demand side of this equation doesn’t seem to be the problem.” He says demand is “off the charts in Europe and Asia” and expects American demand to keep increasing as well. Read more
Hyundai Plans First U.S. Hybrid in 2010
August 20, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Hyundai will introduce it’s first hybrid cars into the US using cutting-edge lithium-ion battery technology in 2010, an executive said on Wednesday. John Krafcik, vice president for product development at Hyundai, said the automaker would offer a hybrid version of the Sonata sedan for American consumers and would unveil a prototype of the vehicle in November of 2008. Read more
