AND 
Volt will be Either a Tremendous Victory or a Terrible Defeat
As some readers previously noticed, the Economist published an excellent article about battery technology. It is concise, well-written, and accurate.
The article goes through the historical evolution of the battery right up to today’s cutting edge lithium-based technologies. Specifically discussed are the chemistries used by LG Chem and A123, the two companies that are making prototype Volt battery packs.
The article is well worth a read.
Of course the Chevy Volt is mentioned and the source of this posts title quote is battery expert James George, not GM!
Source (The Economist)
56 Responses to “Volt will be Either a Tremendous Victory or a Terrible Defeat”
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March 15th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Lithium-ion meet nanotechnology. Nanotechnology meet lithium-ion. I think the progress of battery technology will be much faster from now on because scientists are finally starting to think sub-macro material.
Also, Do they realize the Volt is a hybrid? The author said, "look, no tailpipe." The Volt does have a tail pipe. Plus, since it’s a hybrid even if they get 70% of expected performance the Volt will still be a huge success. At least environmentally.
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March 15th, 2008 at 7:09 am
It already is a HUGE Success if GM prices it correctly.
DO NOT allow Dealers to raise pricing above sticker. Only a chosen few dealers will get them to start. Sell them!
Do not make them a Trophy sitting on the parking lot with mark ups. GM I know your reading this. Don’t blow it guys. We are all proud of your new efforts. Follow through if you still want to be in the Auto Business. We want you to be!
Thanks.
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March 15th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Right On! GM don’t blow this. It’s time for American industry to again set the world standard. There is money in for you and superior products for us. Viva Free Enterprise!
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March 15th, 2008 at 8:34 am
"It is concise, well-written, and accurate."
I think that describes every Economist article. The amazing thing is that it is free online, vs. a $150 annual subscription.
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March 15th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Whether GM succeeds at this, or fails, the E-REV configuration is the obvious winner, as Fisker Automotive is using it, and Tesla Motors, once staunchly 100% BEV only, is now going to offer one.
Additionally, Morgan Life Car is using a fuel cell / supercapacitor variation on this theme, so the config will move forward, and pollution will decrease.
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March 15th, 2008 at 9:44 am
It already is a HUGE Success if GM prices it correctly.
I see this all the time. Pricing will depend on supply and demand and the costs of the technologies involved.
GM can not sell this thing at a loss (certainly not a big loss… even in an attempt to gain market share).
I do agree with the thought that GM should not allow dealer markups, though it is hard to see what the incentive for dealers to carry and service the vehicle will be.
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March 15th, 2008 at 9:49 am
The economist’s article may contain dated material as to the heating and combustabilty issues associated with earlier technology. These issues have been addressed in later designs and will not be a concern hopefully.
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March 15th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I think it is good to see several diferent approaches to the battery systems. This means that companies now believe it is to time to make this happen. And that will lead to performance improvements much more quickly.
Plus, it is a breath of fresh air, after the last few days of very depressing "announcements". Those sure seems to have taken the wind out of the forum section of this site…..
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March 15th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I want the VOLT to succeed…peroid!
If the VOLT dosent succeed it will be because of poor leadership at GM and not the factory workers who assemble the car…
Lutz better quit screwing around and making excuses and get this project going to the tune of at least 200,000 cars a year!
As soon as this car hits the market everyone will want one…
EVERYONE!
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March 15th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Sorry Typo…
(period)
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March 15th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Actually GM may have to sell the vehicle at a loss in the early stages. Toyota reportedly lost money on each Prius for three years before volume sales turned it profitable. Volt will be in huge demand on its introduction and even at a loss the first 10k units will generate so much attention and interest that the next 500k units will all be at escalating profit margins. Also ancillary sales of GM hybrids and other vehicles will increase as millions of buyers stop into showrooms to look at the future of auto transportation – the Chevrolet Vo,t.
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March 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
A commenter on a new story claims there were recent lay-offs of engineers on the Volt program. Any truth to this rumor?
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=1e50048c-2664-4549-80e3-f0785250df47&k=80581
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March 15th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I believe the key to success may be that GM make future battery packs compatible with the initial models.
Since battery technology seems to be advancing at a rapid pace, and the best, most affordable batteries (or ultracapacitors) may be 5 to 10 years out, customers in 2010 may want to upgrade to the batteries that are sold in 2015.
I see this as a means for GM to sell product NOW, even though the batteries may not meet certain criteria, such as the 40 mile range or 150,000 mile life. As long as customers know that for a nominal fee, within the next 5 years they can upgrade to the latest and greatest battery technology, that will be sufficient to get sales and alleviate some of the concern over battery life. Also, hopefully this will allow GM to transfer some of the "warranty cost" of the battery to better batteries in the future.
If I get the chance, I will pose this question at the VoltNation Town Hall meeting on Wednesday.
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March 15th, 2008 at 11:11 am
>> Toyota reportedly lost money on each Prius for three years before volume sales turned it profitable.
2002 brought profit. Back then… it was fairly easy to limit supply, gas was cheap, and there was plenty of time still.
2011 will be very, very, very different.
Volt is already a late comer, not to mention spreading the technology to other vehicle models. Success will be determined by sales volume. Many right away will vital.
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March 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
As far as profit and loss for GM. At 10,000 units a loss is guaranteed, you are probably looking at a cost of close to 60k a pop at this level.
GM has to put the car out in some quantity.
The way development has gone to limited quantity and geographic location, it’s is obvious we are going to see a 12-18 months of limited production from GM, then they are going to sit down and do a ‘feasibility’ study…and thats when it will either die immediately or production/wide release.
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March 15th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I could buy a new car now, but I am waiting for the Volt or the White Star. I plan to buy whichever car hits the market first. GM needs to get in gear.
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March 15th, 2008 at 11:45 am
11Artimus
You said, "Also ancillary sales of GM hybrids and other vehicles will increase as millions of buyers stop into showrooms to look at the future of auto transportation – the Chevrolet Volt."
Right, and let’s not forget that GM has also announced a plug-in version of the Saturn Vue that COULD be available even before the Volt. (The plug-in Vue is a small SUV that reportedly has at least somewhat of a head start —I’ve read GM already has plug-in Vue mules in testing). Also, Saturn has begun advertising the plug-in Vue’s electric-only range as 34 miles* (not 10 as originally claimed), not bad for a vehicle that’s much heavier (& larger) than the Volt. So GM has its E-REV eggs in TWO different baskets …..the Vue and the Volt. It will be very interesting to see which of the two designs reaches dealers first and which sells best!
*New Saturn ad, page 26 of the April 2008 Motor Trend, says "The plug-in Vue Green Line hybrid displayed at the recent North American International Auto Show and planned for 2010 production is capable of running up to 34 miles using all-electric-emissions-free propulsion."
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March 15th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
It was a pleasure to read an article (the Economist) that actually was rational and thoughtful. They missed the LG Chem exec’s comments that their battery might last "over 30 years," but on the whole they covered the ground without the hysterics that so often accompany pop media
reports (and especially bogger crap). I don’t buy into the opinion that the VOLT will be either a great success or a flop.
It’s clear that the plug-ins are in the development pipeline virtually everywhere (even BMW, for God’s sake). It’s also
clear that the battery technology is good enough – no one can observe the VOLT’s success in testing their battery packs and seriously doubt that both of the suppliers will deliver a technically viable product. The only obvious obstacle is price, and I note that the article predicted rather hefty price reductions in the future. In this regard is the new energy bill, which promises a base $3000 for plug-in capability and up to an extra $2000, depdending upon the electrical power capacity (basically, driving range) of the plug-in. That appears to place the VOLT back in the sub $30K playing field.
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March 15th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
>> Saturn has begun advertising the plug-in Vue’s electric-only range as 34 miles
There’s a fine line between advertising and greenwashing. Don’t fall for the hype.
Prius plug-in prototypes could make similar claims. It’s really just a matter of how big of a battery-pack is installed. The catch, like always, is how much will the consumer be willing to pay.
Victory or Defeat will be determined by sales.
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March 15th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
You said, "Saturn has begun advertising the plug-in Vue’s electric-only range as 34 miles…. There’s a fine line between advertising and greenwashing. Don’t fall for the hype."
However, if the plug-in Vue falls substantially short of a 34 mile EV range (40 miles for the Volt), and customers make $30-40K purchase decisions based on this false advertising, GM would be opening themselves up to monstrous class-action law suits. That’s the difference between press releases or interview transcripts and mass advertising such as GM’s Saturn Division has just started.
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March 15th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
When the new Corvette came out in 97 the dealers were charging $5,000 or more over list. If the do this ith the Volt I will buy whatever else is out there and probably never walk into a GM showroom again.
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March 15th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
March 15th, 2008 at 7:09 am Vincent – DO NOT allow Dealers to raise pricing above sticker. Only a chosen few dealers will get them to start. Sell them!
Don’t be too concerned about that. You can be sure that Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi .. etc will be coming out with cars in around $20K at the same time, there will be several to choose from. If GM has had the attitude they have had in the paste where "They" know what is good for the customer and that the customer will pay any price for the new technolgy, the Volt will be dead in the water before it takes off.
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March 15th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
At the recent 2008 Geneva Auto Show Toyota introduced their incredible new IQ mini hybrid car said to get 169 MPG and available for sale in the next six months, or late 2008 or early 2009.http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/15/toyota-to-counter-gms-hybrid-suv-onslaught-with-a-mini-hybrid-o/
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March 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
"EVERYONE!"
Not me! I have never been in the market for a sportscar like the Volt. I follow this sight religiously because I am like… "Finally someone is building a car properly!"
I am more interested the drive system and not so much the actual car. I am anxiously awaiting the day when almost all new cars have the same extended range system that the volt has. I want my extended range truck!
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March 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Perhaps GM need a second distribution channel apart from their dealership network.
I must get my marketing textbook out.
Isnt that based on producing a variant that is only sold through a channel such as Walmart?
Or Direct marketing with a central helpdesk?
Cars delivered to your door by a national car transportation company?
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March 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
" statik #15 The way development has gone to limited quantity and geographic location, it’s is obvious we are going to see a 12-18 months of limited production from GM, then they are going to sit down and do a ‘feasibility’ study…and thats when it will either die immediately or production/wide release. " *** ****
Feasibility studies are usually done before a decision is made to produce a car. GM has already stated they’ve forgone any such studies and made a corporate commitment to produce the Volt. The decisions to be made after the rumored 10K releases will be how to fix any existing and/or potential problems for a larger run.
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March 15th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Figured I would chime in on the Economist article…Truly one of the best articles I’ve read yet on this battery technology. I read about this stuff (like most of you) pretty much all of the time, and that article still taught me a lot of the history and background that I wasn’t aware of before. Thank you to the poster who originally linked it here recently!
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March 15th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Victory, I think.
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March 15th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
#24 omegaman66
I’m with you. I want to see the E-Flex system validated and then applied to other vehicles. I saw the Volt at the Fort Worth auto show this weekend and I wouldn’t buy it as my personal vehicle at my age. However, when the E-Flex is in a compact sedan, I’ll buy one.
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March 15th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
The Expectation Quiz:
Is the Volt going to cost less than $30,000, $35,000 or $40,000?
Is the number of Volts retailed in 2010 going to be zero, 10,000 or 60,000?
Is the number of Volts retailed in 2011 going to be zero, 10,000 or 60,000
Is the number of Volts retailed in 2012 going to be zero, 10,000 or 60,000.
Is the AER of the Volt for an average driver going to be less than 24 miles, less than 32 miles or less than 40 miles?
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March 15th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#21 Larry Parylla I have not followed this car’s production for 3 years by 2010 only to shrink away from a dealership who’s middle manager decided to start that model off asking a higher amount then the sticker price. Its called "haggling" it happens at Japanese dealerships too, and any dealer that would try that on me for the Volt better prepare for the long battle of wits till I get what I want.
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March 15th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Van,
I’ll place my bet on:
1) less than $40,000
2) zero in 2010
3) 10,000 in 2011
4) 60,000 in 2012
5) The AER will meet GM’s spec of 40 mi on the EPA combined cycle. The average driver will drive more like the US06 cycle and get about 30 mi AER.
Nasaman,
Don’t forget the Vue plug-in has zero AER. The 32 mi in charge depleating mode is using a mix of gasolene and grid electricty. Multiply the 32 mi. by the fraction of energy from the grid, and you’ll get 10 mi. Equivelent All Electric Range.
GSP
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March 15th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
The Economist article was well written, as always, and GM is to be commended for moving forward with a technologically challenging vehicle. My only hope is that the end product is fairs bettern than other GM efforts, such as the Chevy Corvair, the Chevy Vega and the Chevy Citation.
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March 15th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
32 GSP
Re: You’re right ….the AER (all-electric range) of the plug-in Vue has always been given in GM press releases and in interviews as 10 miles —until just now! I’ll post their ad here again to be sure everyone understands this…..
The newest Saturn ad on page 26 of the April 2008 Motor Trend, says (verbatim),"The plug-in Vue Green Line hybrid displayed at the recent North American International Auto Show and planned for 2010 production is capable of running up to 34 miles using all-electric, emissions-free propulsion."
The plug-in Vue’s original AER has always been understood to be 10 miles (i.e., before the ICE’s first startup). From the ad I quote above, it’s clear to me Saturn plans to offer an option for a much larger battery (another issue many of us have suggested, and one that the huge space available in the Vue chassis makes possible). I fail to see how the Saturn advertisement above could be interpreted as a mix of grid power and ICE power?!?
….And for those who’ve commented in this thread that GM should be offering the Volt’s technology in products other than the Volt, my answer is…. GM IS DOING JUST THAT IN THE FORM OF THE PLUG-IN SATURN VUE (a small SUV) TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE IN 2010 ALONG WITH THE VOLT!
—hey guys, are we all in denial or am I somehow failing to communicate this effectively???
PS: Saturn is also thinking of re-badging & offering the E-REV Opel Flextreme announced earlier this year as having Volt-type technology (and, coincidentally) an AER of 34 miles. If they do so, the Saturn Flextreme could become the THIRD vehicle from GM to make use of the Volt’s drive-train technology.
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March 15th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Nasaman – what I don’t understand is if GM is planning a plug-in Vue with a 34-mile AER for 2010, why is the Volt’s late 2010 deadline considered such a "stretch" for GM? Is the Vue that much easier to produce that they can just bang one out with almost as much AER as the Volt? Granted the car itself is already designed but all the associated electronics would, in my mind, be just as complex and critical to the car’s success as in the Volt’s case. So that means there is either something I am missing about the Vue, or some folks (including GM management) are being way too pessimistic about the Volt’s release.
So can we truly think of the plug-in Vue as a bigger, bulkier Volt (which would be amazing and great news for the E-Flex platform), or is it somehow simplified or inferior? In the case of the former, the Vue deserves a more prominent place on this site!
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March 15th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Nasaman,
We understand you, but do they understand what they are saying?Is that non highway running perhaps?
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March 15th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
nasaman:
Now I am really confused….
According to Mr. Burns, the Volt will only have a relatively small release in a limited amount of geograpic areas, because they are not going to be able to get all the dealerships up to speed. And Mr. Lutz is saying that the price of the Volt will include significant protection for GM, because they have never done anything like this and the long term reliability of the battery pack is of great concern.
So why on earth would they release a second model, with a different drive train technology, but using a similar battery pack at the same time? Will it also be a small quantity, in a few specific areas of the country? And if it is impossible to get the Chevy dealers and techs trained, how is it that they have the manpower to get the Saturn dealers ready?Finally, is that ad a confirmation that the Vue will be produced? Because as far as I know, there has been no such definitive statement from GM for the Volt. All I can find about this is something to the effect that the final decision on the Volt will not be made until after the mule testing is complete. And since that has now been pushed back several months, we may not know until the end of 2008.
Please don’t take any of this to mean that I no longer think the Volt is the vehicle for me. Far from it. I am just trying to take what we are being told, and put the pieces of the puzzle together. But right now, they are not fitting together very well………
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March 15th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
35 Jake, 36 bruce g, 37 Jim I….
I can’t answer all your questions because I don’t have the first-hand, inside information I’d need to do so. But I’ll try my best….
It is now well known that GM is presently planning THREE separate plug-in vehicles based on the Volt’s technology….
1) The plug-in Chevy Volt itself
2) The plug-in Saturn Vue, and (perhaps)
3) The plug-in Opel/Saturn Flextreme vehicle
My GUESS is that GM senior management has decided to focus primarily on the Volt for public/press transparency simply to keep the design teams who are working primarily on the plug-in Saturn & the Opel Flextreme "Volt variants" from being peppered with many of the same questions enthusiasts like us and/or members of the automotive press are asking about the Volt’s design —such as those questions many of us here will be asking at VoltNation next week.
All three E-FLEX designs above are aimed at very different market segments although they share the same basic Volt E-REV technology. I think of the Volt as a sexy 4-door sport sedan (like a Camaro Z-28 sport coupe) with FOUR doors (not 2), FOUR bucket seats (not 2) and TWO consoles (in the rear as well as the front). Pretty snazzy, huh?
By contrast, I think of the Vue as a stylish but highly practical compact SUV that appeals to a growing and very different, much more pragmatic market segment than the Volt. And I see the Flextreme as a highly-advanced 4-door sedan with lots of pizazz like the Volt but with an even lower coefficient of drag and more advanced styling than the Volt (styling that may not appeal to many but that "techies" are likely to LOVE). None is really inferior to the others —each simply appeals to a different market segment.
By the way, Lyle PM’ed me this evening to say, regarding the plug-in Vue’s new AER claim of 34 miles, to "Stay tuned….(this) will be tomorrow’s post."
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March 16th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Here’s the formula for making the Volt a huge success…..
Are you reading GM??
1) Give customers an option to *PURCHASE* the vehicle as well as lease. If you only give them the option to lease, it is as good as dead right there.
2) 30K should be the ceiling of a ’standard’ Volt. Anything over and you lose lots of potential customers. Your competition WILL sell a car for less. If you’re going to sell a car for 10K more then the competition, make it worth 10K more.
3) Make better commercials. Hell, I can write you one FOR FREE and it would be a thousand times better then the dog one.
4) Give customers the ability to upgrade to newer batteries with longer range when the first ones can’t hold their charge.
5) Did I mention…giving customers the option to outright purchase the car?
If you repeat your mistake with the EV-1 an only give the ‘leasing’ option, this would be the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot and tossing away your research money.
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March 16th, 2008 at 2:57 am
Why are so many confused about the plug-in Vue?
It will be using TWO-MODE, not the technology in Volt.
Also, electric-only range of a "full" hybrid isn’t an objective measure, since that isn’t the purpose. kW capacity available is more appropriate.
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March 16th, 2008 at 5:59 am
#6 BBM said: "I do agree with the thought that GM should not allow dealer markups, though it is hard to see what the incentive for dealers to carry and service the vehicle will be."
The incentive is just like any other car…future service! That is where the real money is!
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March 16th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I would like to offer GM all my GM card points plus a deposit on a Volt to support their effort right now. All GM has to do is agree that if I can’t buy a Volt for some reason, pricing or project failure, I may transfer some portion of the donation/deposit to another GM vehicle.
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March 16th, 2008 at 9:20 am
40 john1701a….
You’re right to ask (& explain), "Why are so many confused about the plug-in Vue? It will be using TWO-MODE, not the technology in Volt."
John, you’re the ‘Frank Lloyd Wright’ of HEV/EV architecture at gm-volt.com & I certainly value your opinions! But the plug-in Vue’s 2-mode system, although it suffers some EV-mode inefficiency and is not optimized for electric-only propulsion like the Volt is, includes two independently-controllable 55KW electric motors. At the Vue’s size & weight, 110KW (i.e., 148HP) would be able to easily accelerate & exceed legal freeway speed limits without ANY assist from the 3.6L V-6 it also includes.
….It’s simply a matter of the algorithims used in the Vue’s control electronics AND the battery size, independent of it’s HEV architecture. So if the battery were increased in size to that of the Volt’s 16KWh battery (there’s plenty of space for it) and the control electronic’s algorithims were modified appropriately, there’s no technical reason why the plug-in Vue’s AER couldn’t be extended significantly (i.e, to ~34-35 miles), albeit at somewhat less overall efficiency than the Volt’s pure E-REV system.
PS: Please visit today’s newest post on this subject & let me know if you might be more (or less) interested in the plug-in Vue if it were offered with an added-cost option to extend its AER of ~10 miles to ~35 miles (as ‘fodder’ for my questions to GM in NYC this week).
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March 16th, 2008 at 10:24 am
It will be a victory, that much is obvious.
If you drive less than 40 miles a day, you won’t use ANY gasoline.
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March 16th, 2008 at 11:52 am
The only way the Volt will be a terrible defeat is if GM makes a pile of junk, and price it too high for the masses.
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March 17th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I haven’t bought a domestic car since 1999. However, I would like to change that by puchasing a domestic nameplate and I hope it is the Volt. But I fear Chevy doesn’t get it yet. Listen to America. Here is what you need to do:
1. Price it affordably with no bells and whistles as a basic model T so it will be accepted quickly by the masses. Bring in the upgrades later for those who want the bells and whistles and have the money to spend.
2. Don’t blow the pricing ladies and gentlemen. Toyota and Honda will crush you if you do.
3. Did I mention; don’t price it where hard working folks can’t afford it?
I would like to see the USA become a leader in green auto technology. This is your chance to become a leader again. You blow this and you will be 2nd or 3rd for the next 20-30 years.
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March 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
#45 Rashiid Amul:
#46 Partick Daugharty:
Right.
I might have said, "… makes a pile of junk and/or prices it too high for the masses", as either one is likely a deal breaker, but right on to both of you.
Happy St. Pat’s, Patrick!
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March 17th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
This car makes me want to buy GM stock again. I used to think "wow Prius, what a great concept, but why on Earth did they put such an ugly body on such genious mechanics?"
The Volt is not only 10 times better looking, but the concept of driving 30-40 miles before the engine charges the batteries is even more genious. Let this car be the first of its kind to bring Detroit back on its feet again.
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March 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
If the Volt is "terrible defeat" in marketing it would not have it’s own blog and waiting list! I don’t think the Chevy Aztek ever had it’s own blog!
For the technology (batteries) they have come a long way and if they can build a Telsa with a massive battery - GM can build a Volt with a 40-mile battery!!!
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March 20th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I want to believe….. but…. BUT…. GM is running a Chevy "microsite" on the NYT at: http://chevy.nytimes.com/ The splash says that GM wants to listen to consumers — and it wants a "dialogue" (sure, now that gas is approaching $4/gallon, of course it does).
HOWEVER, GM apparently intends to LEASE the Volt. Click on Q&A and then Electric; scroll to the bottom; see the note by the + sign that says:
+ Not available for sale
There’s nothing strange about that UNLESS you have watched "Who Killed The Electric Car?". In this case, you know the story, you see the big red flag. I don’t think anyone who knows the history of the EV-1 would LEASE a Chevy Volt. I desperately want to believe that this is not greenwash and GM is serious about PHEVs. — but then it does this. Unbelievable.
Cynical? Moi? So, why is there a Land Rover Official Site advert right at the bottom of this page with "Potential tax break on a New SUV. Learn more & find a retailer today."
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March 20th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I do believe that the Volt has great potential in leading GM to be the leader in Auto sales again. I also believe that they are making 110% sure that this car is durable, reliable, and that the A123 batteries live up to it’s name. That’s the biggest reason they are taking so long to bring it to fruition. Competing against Toyota has not been easy. I think this is going to be the greatest revolution GM has come up with to date. By the way, An Assistant Professor from Stanford, Yi Cui has come up with a battery that is several times more efficient than the A123 battery. His has used silicon nanowires connected to the Anode part of the Lithium battery to get this extreme efficiency. He says it can hold 10 times the charge of the A123 battery, but he has not worked on the cathode part of the battery and thus it is only several times more efficient. So instead of 40 miles on one charge, the battery would be able to get at least 100-160 miles on one charge. Good news for the future. There is one disturbing article that I read on Lithium. The article says that Lithium supply is limited. In other words, there is not much of it to go around for an indefinate supply. The Great Salt lake is the only supply that the USA has locally. It has been noted that there is plenty of Lithium is the ocean, but it may be extremely costly to extract it. Here we go again with limited supplies just like oil.
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March 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Meltyman,
Of COURSE it’s not for sale. IT’S NOT DONE YET! All of the talk at the show was about buying, not leasing. In fact, I didn’t hear anyone even use the word. Relax, we have a couple of years.
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September 7th, 2008 at 11:36 am
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September 8th, 2008 at 7:19 am
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September 8th, 2008 at 7:19 am
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September 10th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
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