It is increasingly clear that battery-powered electric vehicles both with and without range extenders are going to become the primary type of automobile in the future. One concern going forward is that the US could substitute foreign-petroleum dependence for foreign-battery dependence, as nearly all lithium-ion batteries are manufactured in Asia.
President-elect Obama has stated his interest in having 1 million plug-in cars on US roads by 2015. He is also preparing a massive stimulus plan which legislators are currently working on. Word its that the package will contain advanced battery production government loans.
Recently US-based lithium-ion battery maker EnerDel has announced it had applied for $480 million in ATVMIP loans, otherwise known as the retooloing loans, from which GM has also applied for its advanced vehicle development. Reports indicate GM has actually asked for $8 billion for the Volt and Cruze programs.
A123 Systems is the Massachusetts-based lithium ion battery company which has been running against LG Chem for the Volt battery contract. Although rumors suggest A123 might not have won this round, future partnerships with GM and many other automotive OEMs are likely for the company. An official Volt announcement on the battery contract is likely in the immediate future, and I suspect we’ll here about it at next week’s Auto Show (rumor).
Today A123 has broken its pre-IPO silence with a major announcement. The company has said it plans to invest $2.3 billion in building US battery factories, with the first one expected in southeast Michigan.
The company disclosed that they have applied for $1.84 billion in ATVMIP loans.
They claim this degree of production could make enough batteries to power 5 million hybrid cars by 2013, and create 14,000 jobs.
GM vice-chairman and Volt visionary Bob Lutz said “At GM, we see the development of vehicles powered by electricity as key to the transformation of our industry. And advanced battery technology, is at the heart of this transformation. A123′s proposal to manufacture advanced battery cells and packs right here in the United States is a positive development for our industry and the nation.”
Source (BusinessWire)
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 at 3:02 pm and is filed under Battery, Financial, Production. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Jan 7th, 2009 (3:05 pm)DONT BUY NEW GAS CARS MAKE EM MAKE EVS……(I’m first he he 3rd time)
DON’T WORRY ABOUT GAS PRICES, EVS WILL STILL BE THE FUTURE OF AMERICA
NO PLUG NO SALE, LJGTVWOTR, DBNGCMEMEV, (my house)=D~~~(my volt)
Jan 7th, 2009 (3:06 pm)Some good news for a change. I’m glad to see A123 is still bullish about their future.
Jan 7th, 2009 (3:12 pm)that is good news, good to hear they are investing in the tech.
Jan 7th, 2009 (3:17 pm)I wonder if EESTOR has the right answer to the battery problem, is it a good idea to spend a lot of money on something that might not be worth anything soon, just a thought
NO PLUG NO SALE, LJGTVWOTR, DBNGCMEMEV, (my house)=D~~~(my volt)
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:00 pm)“Reports indicate GM has actually asked for $8 billion for the Volt and Cruze programs”
Here we go again. Our grandchildren will still be paying for the loans GM gets in 2009.
GABNS (Get a bailout, no sale)
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:24 pm)This is big news, and it is good news!
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:24 pm)“The company (A123) disclosed that they have applied for $1.84 billion in ATVMIP loans”
“Recently US-based lithium-ion battery maker EnerDel has announced it had applied for $480 million in ATVMIP loans”
“Reports indicate GM has actually asked for $8 billion for the Volt and Cruze programs”
—————————-
/sickening
Money is free…right?
Just wait until the initial jobs report on thursday, and then friday’s unemployment figures for december…all a result from making bad loans.
So, how do we fix all that ails us? Loan/bailout/tax rebate out more money to unqualified people and programs of course…obviously. Setting up for multiple trillion dollar yearly deficits for as far as the eye can see. Always important to attempt to put off what needs to be done today until later.
…still got that pesky Social Security and Medicare problem to deal with too.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:25 pm)#8!
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:32 pm)Looks like A123 want’s to put itself more exposed to receive some of that “save our american economy” money…
The future is what we make it and we built it everyday.
NPNS!
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:33 pm)In one of his video interviews, Bob Lutz mentions that current automotive batteries need very little direct labor content (I won’t spoil it, but give you the chance to guess). This shows how automated lead acid battery production has become.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoYnnSKH_6I&feature=related
He also talks about the possibility of a highly automated process for the production of Li-Ion batteries. It could bring down the cost of the battery packs by a huge factor.
With a loan application for $1.84 billion (and probably more contributed by A123 and investors), could this new, expensive battery plant be one that is designed for this level of automation? Since the plant would be unlikely to start production before 2011, and by 2013 have made enough batteries for 5 million hybrids, it would seem possible.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:38 pm)With this announcement, A123 is a lock for the 2nd gen Volts (unless EEStor isn’t a scam). I would probably get some stock at the IPO if I had more than $200 to my name.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:41 pm)Wow, this is good news. A123 sure sounds committed. Let the battery factory construction begin! The more high tech and efficient they design the battery factories, the cheaper the batteries will be.
Super high tech, high range, relatively inexpensive automotive batteries are going to take over the world in the next 10 years. I want to see automotive batteries for American cars with “Made in America” stickers on them if possible. I bet these battery factories will be highly automated, so they might be able to make them just as inexpensively in America as they can in China.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:45 pm)Casey #1
Just a brainstorm…What if we(all, most, some) resolve to never buy another car without a plug, and if we absolutely have to get another car and none with plugs are appropriate for our needs, then we get only buy used cars to encourage more availability of cars and light trucks with plugs?
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:51 pm)Jeffhre Says:
January 7th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Casey #1
Just a brainstorm…What if we(all, most, some) resolve to never buy another car without a plug, and if we absolutely have to get another car and none with plugs are appropriate for our needs, then we get only buy used cars to encourage more availability of cars and light trucks with plugs?
Then all the Auto companies would go out of business and we would all be out of work. They need money by selling current cars and many years to change everything.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:51 pm)Wait what was that noise. Why it must be the sound of all the billions being invested by EESTOR licensees for factories to create storage devices with lower energy densities than current Li-ion chemistry’s. What-oh, my mistake, just the wind. As Static would say, HeHeHe.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:52 pm)If EEstor is real, it may still take years for EV-capable EESU’s to reach this kind of volume. We still don’t know what EEstor basic costs will be, but it sounds like fabrication could be more difficult to automate for it than for Li-Ion. How long has Li-ion been in production for laptops and cellphones, prior to reaching this point? How long has EEstor been in production for anything?
Been away from the site for awhile, still looking back to see some of what was said over the holidays … Happy New Year, all.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:54 pm)Starcast #14
So Maybe you’re saying that the auto industry is part of the problem instead of the solution. I’ve always thought capitalism plus incentivization would work wonders.
Jan 7th, 2009 (4:56 pm)No I’m Saying it takes time
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:01 pm)At what point do I say that I will not capitalize ventures that hurt me in place of those that benefit me greatly.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:04 pm)I’ve been saying on this blog for a long time, stop buying new gas cars. keep or buy only used ones
the auto companies wont go broke, they get their money from the government, they don’t need us. They will just have to make regular cars that run on electricity, wow , what a concept. ya think!!!
NO PLUG NO SALE, LJGTVWOTR, DBNGCMEMEV, (my house)=D~~~(my volt)
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:07 pm)This is really good news. I think A123 has the best technology available at this time and am really pleased that they are going to start manufacturing their batteries here.
I have been driving for 44 years and have never purchased a new car. I have been very happy with my cars too (except for maybe my Oldsmobile which rusted out bad, but I was given that so can’t complain too much). My current 92 Subaru (still gets 29 mpg over a tank of gas) is about to turn 250k miles and I am going for another 100k. If I do buy a new car it will have a plug. My next car will have a plug if I have to assemble it myself.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:13 pm)Wohoo! This is encouraging.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:14 pm)I guess we don’t need or want venture capitalists in the US when the Socialists can just print more money.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:18 pm)We need venture caps for the new ideas that will economically solve current and emerging problems. We only need socialists to prop up old failures.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:25 pm)My hopes and dreams always seem to crash or fizzle out. I expected this latest push for fuel-efficient cars to follow that pattern. The financial situation took the wind out of my sails for a while. Then, Lyle started posting fun Volt news. I keep getting encouraged. A new U.S. Li-ion battery factory? Really? Cool!
I am so excited about electric car development. I’m all set up. So, this would be a good time to pull the rug out from under me.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:26 pm)What do you call that lawyer who is forming a battery consortium that wasn’t putting up their own money, but wanted the Fed to fund it all? (try boondoggle) They didn’t even have any viable technology. No venture cap would touch that. I wouldn’t want the government to either. If we are going to spend money I would at least like to start with a viable technology. It will be hard enough to automate a high volume manufacturing facility (I understand that making the lithium ion batteries is very labor intensive the way they do it now, so some innovation will have to go into new manufacturing techniques, but that is better than wanting the government to fund coming up with the battery design in the first place. I think we have had a new battery technology design program running at the dept of energy for the last twenty years and it has produced sqat.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:35 pm)Ecouraging but late in the game.
If you search for any Lithium Ion Polymer/Prismatic mfgr/resellers in the US they will all be at least 40% – 75% more in price than foreign mfgrs. Sure buying American is good but spending that much more because of the fact is what will deter most. Just compare Valence batteries or A123 or any others. He11, Valence wouldn’t even entertain selling me 4 of their batteries because it was too low in qty but i’ll be demned if I was going to pay in excess o $750 for a 13.8v 110AH per battery anyway.
I hope A123 can be more competitive in this market.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:43 pm)I just had a Budweiser induced thought…..
You know that $7500 tax incentive that really wont do jack didly do when you finance? Well, what if,instead of getting the fake tax break, you would get a set of solar panels, 5 each @ 200W (1KW Total) with charge controller and a bank of LA batteries (all would be close to $7500) and inverter? That way you would truly be as green as Captain Kirks girfriends.
Jan 7th, 2009 (5:49 pm)EEStor EESU is a battery, for all intents and purposes. Not a Capacitor like some may think. Also, nobody has ever seen either a prototype or tested anything from them, not even Zenn.
Till I see anything it’s a scam.
Jan 7th, 2009 (6:13 pm)I’m really kicking myself for buying 1k shares of GM stock.I should have waited till GM anounced who is going to do their batteries.If A123 does get to IPO status for a US plant I will gladly put $10k in them and $5k in Enerdel.Statik,since you’re our resident money guru what do you think?
Jan 7th, 2009 (6:17 pm)Capt Jack
Toyota, Nissan,kia and Budweiser, is un-American now
NO PLUG NO SALE, LJGTVWOTR, DBNGCMEMEV, (my house)=D~~~(my volt)
Jan 7th, 2009 (7:13 pm)CaptJackSparrow,
I do apologize for missing your question in yesterday’s thread.
I am no expert. Some of this stuff just goes in and right out of my head.
But I think the generator is an induction motor. I don’t think that is the same as Permanent Magnet but I’m no expert. My degree is in IT and that is really all I do.
Jan 7th, 2009 (7:19 pm)Its the height of selfishness and irresposiblitity to keep pumping money we don’t have to keep these failed companies going. Who will be paying for this? Our kids and grandkids. I would rather deal with hardship now rather than kick the can down the street for them to deal with. Its time we suck it up and stop supporting bailouts and companies that get them, just so we can all be comfortable now.
Jan 7th, 2009 (7:51 pm)The post starts off with “It is increasingly clear that battery-powered electric vehicles both with and without range extenders are going to become the primary type of automobile in the future”
———————————————————————–
I like this sentence because of its enthusiasm.
The sentence is also a considerable stretch. To say “primary type of automobile”, considering that right now there are no vehicles of this type available in quantities greater than 1000 from a major manufacturer, requires imagination. And “both with and without range extenders”, as if that battle was already a draw. Wow.
Well I hope it will all be true.
Jan 7th, 2009 (7:51 pm)Sometimes, businesses need loans.
Jan 7th, 2009 (7:54 pm)Hey Bryce #33, why so skeptical? I hope you’re on the AIG/Citibank blogs asking are we ever going to see THOSE institutions repay the FREAKING SEVEN HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS they were given by US the taxpayers????????????
Oh, that’s right, they were GIVEN that money. WHICH THEY CAN’T ACCOUNT FOR. (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/23/20081223bailout-money1223.html)
The money GM got was a LOAN.
FOCUS Bryce. GM will give us back our money WITH INTEREST. Vent your anger on the financial community who have p_ssed our and yes our grandchildren’s money, down the toilet.
Jan 7th, 2009 (8:03 pm)Pass some of those jobs up Canada’s way as well. We already make your vehicles better than you do.
Sorry my american friends, I had to add that one in there!
GM likes to build vehicles in Canada becuase they don’t have to provide health insurance to us, because we already have it!
Chris
Jan 7th, 2009 (8:05 pm)28 CaptJackSparrow
“That way you would truly be as green as Captain Kirks girfriends.”
=================================
Yeah! Hot Green women for everyone! I like it….(duck, after wife throws large vase at my rather dull head…..plunk>>>>>>>>>>>).
Capn’ Kirk got all the hotties! (Crap, now she’s throwing dishes….better stop now….bye)
Jan 7th, 2009 (8:21 pm)#29 CaptJackSparrow
“EEStor EESU is a battery, for all intents and purposes. Not a Capacitor like some may think.”
===================================================
Well, I would have to disagree with you here. The EESTOR is a capacitor. It uses two “plates” separated by a dielectric material. The capacitor can be measured in Farads, and is related to the surface area and dielectric thickness.
A battery is an electro-chemical cell that consists of an anode, cathode and electrolyte.
The key characteristic in capacitance is the surface area and the thinness of the dielectric. If you could make an infinitely thin dielectric, you could in theory store infinite amounts of power! Way cool, hey!
Jan 7th, 2009 (8:23 pm)39 JEC (self)
Is “thinness” a word???
Jan 7th, 2009 (8:29 pm)Perhaps the most incredibly dumb fears is that we will “trade” depdendencies on foreign oil for depdendencies on batteries.
Why in God’s green earth anyone would care that we would be dependent upon Asia for batteries is one of the world’s great mysteries. We are already depdendent on that area of the world for practically everything we wear, listen to, look at, etc. etc. etc. A large portion of the parts required fo a car are produced by foreign countries. So what? Depedency on countries for oil is another matter altogether with implications not even remotely the same as
our dependencies on China/Korea/Japan/Malaysia/etc. for electric toothbrushes, etc. etc. The country that comes up with a superior battery will be the one that produces them for the world. Building a factory doesn’t insure squat, and is a senseless investment for a country to make. I have yet to hear anyoen provide any reason why they think battery building is somehow special and highly desirable. It’s probbaly a lousy business, for all I know, and something we shouldn’t be messing with, considering our high labor rates.
Jan 7th, 2009 (8:45 pm)_____________________________________________________
Since A123 is putting its hand out for a taxpayer $1.84B grant/loan, you may also want to get some fruit from the ATVMIP taxpayer money tree. It’s easy, here is the link:
http://www.atvmloan.energy.gov
http://www.atvmloan.energy.gov/apply.html
ATVMIP (Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program) = Taxpayer Grant/Loan.
Wow…all these available $millions, $billions, $trillions. How very cool! Wohoo!
______________________________________________________
Jan 7th, 2009 (8:56 pm)#40 JEC asks “Is thinness” a word?
———————————————————–
Most definitely yes, a word very often used these days in relation to models, for whom thinness is a big issue. It’s cited in Merriam-Webster as going to back to the middle ages or before.
Jan 7th, 2009 (9:18 pm)It must mean they have a contract with some company in Michigan. Who? For what?
I do not think that at this particular moment anybody is going to be building a factory that has no customers for its product, and I very much doubt that A123 is building a whole factory for a highly specialized product as a speculation that some company might come along in the future. These batteries are not like the ones that go in flashlights that have standardized shapes and voltages. That is, A123 has a contract now. For whom does the bell toll?
Jan 7th, 2009 (9:35 pm)Casey @ 4,
I wonder if EESTOR has the right answer to the battery problem, is it a good idea to spend a lot of money on something that might not be worth anything soon, just a thought
Until EESTOR shares a lot more information, I’m not prepared to bet anything on their mysterious technology. I hope I’m wrong, but I expect it’ll be ready in time to power my Moller SkyCar.
P.S. I first read that the Moller SkyCar was nearly ready for production when I was 12 years old. I just turned 30, and they haven’t made any noticeable progress. In the meantime, I’ve earned a pilot’s license and well over 100 hours in Cessnas and even a little time in a Mooney retract. Also, Cirrus and Eclipse have been founded and then actually delivered several hundred easy-to-fly people’s-aircraft (as much as any aircraft can be a people’s aircraft, with the distorted economic and legal environment that exists for aviation in this country). For the record, it’s much more fun to fly real aircraft than pine for a flying car one day. Similarly, I’d much rather drive an EV based on a lithium-ion battery (or even a lead-acid battery), than wait for EESTOR to mature.
Jan 7th, 2009 (9:51 pm)BillR #10
Thanks for the youtube video of Bob Lutz. I could watch that guy by the hour. He’s a can-do type of person that is fun to listen to.
I noted his comments about Toyoto’s negative remarks last year about GM successfully producing the Volt. Now that it’s pretty much a done deal other car makers are falling all over themselves to follow in GM’s footsteps.
4 man minutes to make a lead acid battery is pretty good. I believe that lion batteries will take a little longer but they will definitely get cheaper and better as automation is developed to make them.
I was watching a program called “how its made” and I couldn’t get over the automation that goes into making a car engine.
Jan 7th, 2009 (9:56 pm)Luke,
I’m over 50.
Want to know how long I’ve heard that a true electric car was “only ten years away?”
(–hint: When I first heard this, I wondered if an electric car would be out by the time I was old enough for a driver’s license. Now I wonder if one will be out before I’m too old for a driver’s license…)
Jan 7th, 2009 (9:56 pm)#44 RB
I think you have something there. No one builds a factory with just a “hope” of someday maybe selling their product.
We may soon hear the “rest of the story.”
The news is Good. A competitive battery should help us along the road to Volts we can afford to buy.
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:04 pm)# 41
kent beuchert
I think its called the trade balance. While America has a lot of jobs serving apple pie and coffee, we’re a little short in jobs that actually make and export things. It may not be long until other countries cash in their markers.
Although I do agree with you otherwise.
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:06 pm)Can we buy stock in A123 ? What is ticker?
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:13 pm)HEADS UP! THE VOLT WILL HAVE A PIECE ON THE TODAY SHOW TOMORROW MORNING (THURSDAY nbc) THE TEASE SHOWED THE VOLT CONTROL PANEL AND WAGONER (the panel was cuter).
I’ll TIVO it, but I have no way to post the segment to the web.
Be well,
Tag
“LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS”
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:13 pm)#47 – I’m over 50
__________________________________
I’m over 51, and I recall Walter Cronkite on the TV show “The 21st Century” – promising cars that fly and drive themselves. As I recall, that show predicted clean electric cars too.
I’m still waiting. “And that’s the way it was.”
(Nobody delivered the news better than Cronkite.)
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:14 pm)Jackson #47
I agree, but if you can hang on a couple of years your dreams will be realized. If GM wasn’t doing so badly maybe the EV would be a lot further away. Its partly their failure competing with Japan that’s produced this jump in technology.
The lion battery is a good start into the electric propulsion of vehicles. With knowledge doubling about every two years, you can see where we’re going.
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:19 pm)Build it and they will come
NO PLUG NO SALE, LJGTVWOTR, DBNGCMEMEV, (my house)=D~~~(my volt)
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:30 pm)I understand the Japanese Govt fully funded the Prius battery dovelopment saving toyota a bundle, so why not do it for our own domestic industry?
Jan 7th, 2009 (10:43 pm)#50 CorvetteGuy
Search Google for A123 Systems.
Looks like stock in the company is not publicly traded.
They could go public soon.
Could be they get the big loan from US and won’t go public.
But if they do it will be big news and we’ll hear about it.
Jan 7th, 2009 (11:00 pm)Randy #55
NiMH is a relatively mature technology. What did the Japanese Govt specifically offer and do for the Prius application of the batteries?
Jan 7th, 2009 (11:35 pm)Casey – I agree NO PLUG NO SALE!
We will only buy a new car if it can be pluged in!
Jan 7th, 2009 (11:52 pm)I found a video on U Tube that is a recent interview with Stanford Orshinky. He says the first NiMH car he converted to GM went 200
miles on a charge.
He also says he was working on two more advanced NiMH batterys.
One was doing very well in testing and the other was a promising concept.
He makes it sound like he was not allowed to develope the new batterys.He lets out his frustration about being bought out by an oil company.
Watch it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh4KuCVlF14
Jan 8th, 2009 (12:44 am)I drive by this company in Watertown all the time, maybe it will be my first stock buy! =)
Jan 8th, 2009 (1:01 am)#50 and #56
AONE is the ticker. The company have not announced when and how much. Many investors banker (Underwriters) says the stock market is bearish and not wise to do it.
Jan 8th, 2009 (1:28 am)#44 RB says “That is, A123 has a contract now.”
Very interesting. I hope it’s true. The A123 batteries will be both safer and better performing. We could definitely get some better range. One strange thing in the congressional hearings was that GM was being grilled about using American parts and they had an American company whose batteries where made in Asia and a Korean company whose batteries were made in the US. Interestingly enough this report, released in December, said A123 had the inside track:
http://energytechstocks.com/wp/?p=1994
#51 Tagamet — good catch. Thanks for the heads up. Now did you see this article which says your July 4th date may be too pessimistic?
http://seekingalpha.com/article/109319-gm-s-volt-introduction-may-be-moved-up
Jan 8th, 2009 (2:32 am)OK, Oil went down 12% today. How can the alternatives compete? I remember standing in line for gas! Then as soon as some of the alternatives to oil gained traction, the price of oil went down..
Very recently I was in line for a job in the cutting edge of the alternative energy field. A field that required the price of oil to be $60 a barrel or so. Now I have a fascinating job producing things that will consume oil on a massive scale. Just doing my small bit to maintain a balance.
Red HHR (still sipping oil through a small straw)
Jan 8th, 2009 (8:07 am)A123 – Fantastic news.
#41 Kent – the fact that there are still people who think the way you do proves that everything is possible. Do you honestly believe that we can have a successful country where the only thing we do is change each other’s bedpans?
Jan 8th, 2009 (8:49 am)DonC@62
)
WooHoo! No I hadn’t seen the Edmond’s fellow’s comments. Independence Day makes such a statement for a car like the Volt (and a company on those same ropes). Independence from foreign oil (albeit the first tiny step) and (God willing) GM’s road back to where the “bridge loans – read bailout) $ actually shows a little, positive result. Now if they’d just have included a link to back it up, the way you and Statik do, my head would explode (actually, I’d just be really really happy
THANKS,
Be well,
Tag
LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS
Jan 8th, 2009 (10:08 am)If the cells are bundled for HEV’s like today’s hybrids, the battery size is about 1.5 KWh. And the production facility could produce 5 million of these by 2013. Or if bundled into a 10 times larger battery (15 KWh) for PHEV’s like the Volt, then 500,000 of these could be produced.
Jan 8th, 2009 (10:45 am)I always thought A123 would build a factory in Michigan. It just made sense that they would be supplying batteries to either GM or Ford or to both some time in the future. Sounds like they plan more than one factory. I wonder if the other one will be in the U.S.? I hope we do hear about the battery contract by at least the end of the Detroit Auto Show. It is about time to get started on building some batteries.
Jan 8th, 2009 (11:45 am)At first glance, this sounds like great news!!!
And, if it works, it’ll solve several problems at once.
Jan 8th, 2009 (4:37 pm)How sad that people have no problem on depending on asia for everything but hate the fact that we buy oil from arabs, venezuelans, CDNs, etc
Jan 8th, 2009 (5:46 pm)I would like to see them invest in some recycling plans as well. If Lithium sources may be limited, somebody should think about starting to reclaim it from expired batteries. And building a new factory seems like a great time to include it.
Jan 9th, 2009 (6:55 am)Red HHR
I know that some green solutions depend on the oil price to be practical and to have profit.
In some kind of way i would like that the gas prices went up again. Not for that you couldn’t afford it anymore but.. For technology.
If people get cornered people get ideas. When a barrel was 150 dollar or so… i wished it would go up =D that was not a joke. Because in those day’s i could only read about people getting ideas and more people looked into the green side of life
But as everybody knows.. this low gas price is just temporary.
OPEC soon closes down oil exports to gain more profit etc etc.
I just want a barrol price of arround 100 dollar
it’s not that much and it good for other technology’s to evolve mature and profitable..
Jan 13th, 2009 (11:10 am)fuck A123. sure they have a nice battery but it’s made worthless by their idiotic sales attitude. what good is a battery if they wont sell it at a workable price..
you know the scene from pretty woman where the stupid cow wont sell to Julia Roberts. A123 is exactly like that stupid cow.
so may you drown in massive debts A123. good riddens
Jan 24th, 2009 (6:05 pm)The really great wisdom in getting even far greater massive sums over to GM and A123, is that instead of sending over
* ONE TRILLION *
bucks of our cash over to the eastern oil centers per year,
it is indeed extremely wise to generously fund
* AT LEAST SEVERAL HUNDRED BILLION *
bucks per year if need be in order to get the costs down for
the A123 packs and other new Volt technologies, thus;
getting the Volt sales price down, (so more can buy it),
getting jobs returned to the USA,
getting a modest or slight or even “NO”
return on the investment in as far as interest
accrual would be concerned, would be pennies
compared to all the jobs and new household incomes
which this green evolution is certainly going to bring.
This isn’t hard math, it is first grade elementary school arithmetic. There is just no valid argument whatsoever in
not *COMPLETELY*
funding all aspects of the green motoring evolution. This ought to be really crystal clear to everyone by now it seems to me.
Apparently, the best thing for nay-saying is to carefully reflect on what other unrelated thing causes these residual skeptical subconscious energies, because all these really great things are
*IN PROCESS PRODUCTION RIGHT NOW*
The next 18 months will be gone before you know it.
While economizing where you can regarding discretionary spending to work on our positioning to get a Volt, keep in mind that those very simple things that you must do for the preventive maintenance on your current auto must not be delayed by any excessive mileage because your trade-in or resale values will undo lots of your efforts in the meantime. Problems can not be hidden whatsoever from the very powerful scan systems that plug into your vehicle today, and they most certainly do not get “erased” by “clearing codes”. Having someone to charge you money to “turn the check engine light off” is a certain, complete and silly waste of your money. Borrow to have the vehicle diagnosed and repaired correctly in the first place. (Yes, some secondary tests will be able to then run and also result in the resetting of the light, but that means that the problem went on too long before you were able to deal with the first problem).
Replacing transmission fluid , coolant, and proactively replacing the 12 volt battery after the third summer (in the South), are very, VERY smart things to have done to help maintain your values when its time to get a Volt. (PLEASE! DO NOT LET ANYONE PUT GREASE BETWEEN THE BATTERY POST AND THE TERMINAL CLAMP! Starter motor retraction surge voltage (90volts!!) needs to be absorbed by a good battery, and Controller-area-network processors will have software disruption, and one end of the battery will be “boiled-over” due to more resistance at one post or the other).
Thanks for considering my post.
Dan Petit Austin Tx.