The fact that, after the demise of the EV-1, Exxon-Mobile purchased the ONLY Ni-Cad battery company in the U.S. was a bad omen for the future. Then, apparently, GM decided to ’sole source’ future battery purchases with this company and, now, can’t find suitable ones for the Volt! Gee, what a surprise!

I understand that they went looking for some in the Orient, but soon learned that ALL of the battery companies over there have already signed contracts with the Japanese. And so GM tells us that they’re waiting for the technology to catch up with their demands.

That’s GM-speak for “We blew it – We know it – and we’re going to blow smoke while we figure out what to do!” Good Luck, GM stock holders – you MAY want to sell your stock now rather than wait for it to depreciate any more than its already pathetically-low value!

Sheesh!

I always wondered if you have to come up with a Morse law for Battery technology, what would that be?

Ash

GM have played safe with the electric drive train, by keeping the electric drive train inboard and retained mechanical brakes, rather than use the electric motor as the braking system as well.

The battery technology improvements are moving fast, at computer development speed, 2 year cycle. The Silicon nano wire Li battery seems to be the answer and may give 7 to 10 times the capacity of the carbon Li battery. The Volt will not be using the carbon Li type battery as only last about 3 years and a 1000 cycles.

The better design is the Volvo C30 rechargable, with in wheel motors/brakes and will beat the Volt on packaging and performance.

So the Volt may be first to market but unless GM evolves fast, they will be beaten by better designs.

The indicator of what can be achived is the PMLFlightlink concept car, based on a BMW mini, this can do 400miles on a charge and 900 with the APU running at 80 mpg and it has no comprimises. Top speed 150mph 0-60 4.5 seconds total power 480kw and 2800 nm of torque.

“I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this, but I haven’t seen anything in regards to this, but basically my question is what will happen or what will GM do with all the lithium batteries once they reach their 10 year, 150,000 mile lifespan?

We they be recycled? Some how rebuilt to be reused again? Or just thrown in the landfill?”

They can be used in large buildings sitting in the basement to help smooth out the electricity. Or maybe sell them to people with solar?
Be well,
Tag

We they be recycled? Some how rebuilt to be reused again? Or just thrown in the landfill?

The EV1 cost in the neighborhood of $80,000.00 to make. The lease value was $40,000.00. The lost money on each and every one. If you really follow the money, that is the shortest path.

The decision to crush them was also a money decision. Crushed cars are less of a liability problem. (Has any of the RAV4, ranger, or S10 owners sued, yet?) It may have been short sighted, but the decision is understandable.

If GM could have made money selling electric cars, they would have done so.. Those people who think GM should take a loss the first few years on the Volt live in a dreamworld.

Round-trip efficiency is important as well (when efficiency = 100%, energy out of battery = energy into it), but you can only approach 100% and then you’ve made all of the improvements that you can. With increasing specific power/energy limits with respect to volume/mass, the limits are not known, and there is likely undiscovered potential.

Putting a larger “fuel tank” on a vehicle to get a better “range” doesnt accomplish anything.

Two words: “Range Anxiety”
Two more words: “Cheap Oil”
Two last words: “Heavy Batteries”

You would likely do much more for the advancement of BEV’s if you were to support an increased gas-tax, and help to raise awareness of its benefits. This would encourage consumers to buy smaller, more efficient cars, as seen recently with the increased price at the pump (and would make BEV’s more competitive). Additionally, this revenue could help rebuild America by: 1. More funding for schools to better our children’s future 2. Paying down the national debt to reduce our annual interest payments 3. Funding alternative energy solutions.

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37. Exp_EngTech:

Your avatar looked REALLY familiar, and I just remembered where I’d seen it before! … the Electricity merit badge for the Boy Scouts. Haha, I took the classes for that one over near the Fermi nuclear power plant.

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Go Blue! and congrats to Mike P!