October 2008
FMC Lithium's new CLEAR lab and team. See story below.
around the industry
FMC Lithium Opens New R&D Facility
FMC Lithium has opened the Center for Lithium Energy Advanced Research, a new battery research and develpment facility at the company's Bessemer City, North Carolina plant. CLEAR is equipped with a state-of-the-art R&D dry room, allowing for testing of rechargeable lithium-ion battery components. It also will be used for development and demonstration of the company's new lithium battery materials, including its revolutionary SLMPTM stabilized lithium metal powder.
"FMC Lithium has been an active player in lithium-ion battery material technology ever since lithium-ion batteries emerged in the early 1990s," said Rakesh Sikand, division manager, "This new facility demonstrates our strong belief that lithium chemistry will play a major role in automotive electrification and allows us to work on accelerating the incorporation of FMC's newly developed materials into battery products. We look forward to making a difference together with our partners and customers in developing hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles and electric vehicles."
Sovema S.p.a Acquires Bitrode
Sovema S.p.a. of Verona, Italy, has acquired Bitrode Corp. of Fenton, Missouri.
Sovema is one of the world's largest and most diverse manufacturers of battery production equipment, particularly in oxide production, plate making processes, battery assembling and formation system. Bitrode Corp. is one of the world's most respected suppliers of electrical power conversion systems for EV/HEV battery testing, as well as production and test systems used in the manufacturing of batteries. By this acquisition, Sovema has expanded it's role to become a single source supplier to battery manufacturers around the world.
In addition to the obvious synergies of combining the two companies in their traditional business lines, Sovema expects to expand its penetration into the North American equipment market, as well as to accelerate the company's capabilities in the EV/HEV test and production markets.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Exide Promotes Dette
Exide Technologies has promoted Franz Josef Dette to president, Industrial Energy Europe. Reporting to executive vice president and chief operating officer E.J. O'Leary, Dette will be responsible for commercial and operational aspects of Exide's European Motive and Network Power businesses. He succeeds Joel Campbell, who was president, Industrial Energy Europe, since October 2006.
Since 2007, Dette served as vice president of operations for Exide Industrial Energy Europe in Budingen, Germany. From 2006 to 2007, he also served the division as director of operations. In 2003, Dette was appointed director of logistics for Exide Industrial Energy Europe in Manchester, U.K. Prior to that, he served as vice president of sales for Exide Motive Power Europe in Manchester. Dette has also held several managing director positions for Exide Technologies in Germany since 1998.
He holds a diploma of engineering in electronics from the Technical High School, Lippe, Germany (equivalent to a master's degree in engineering in the U.S.).
Gilchrist Becomes Atraverda CEO
Gilchrist
Atraverda Ltd. of South Wales, U.K., has appointed Michael Gilchrist as its chief executive officer to enhance its position as a leading global supplier of bi-polar lead acid battery technology.
During his 30+ years of experience managing global manufacturing and technology organizations, Gilchrist served as vice president of product and global strategy at Daramic, president and chief executive officer of Microporous Products and in various manufacturing and business group management positions at PPG Industries.
Atraverda is rapidly progressing to deliver the world's first commercially viable bi-polar lead acid battery, using its EbonexÆ technology. Ebonex is a titanium sub-oxide material which has a combination of metallic-like conductivity along with the high-corrosion resistance of ceramics. The company has secured $33.4 million from investors to commercialize its bi-polar battery technology and is working with eight battery producers including East Penn in the U.S. and Exide Industries in India.
In his new role, Gilchrist will accelerate Atraverda's growth, develop further commercial opportunities and deliver commercialization of the bi-polar technology. He will be responsible for corporate management, strategic planning and analysis, product development and innovation and building upon its customer base.
Moore Named EaglePicher Technologies President
Moore
Randy Moore has joined EaglePicher Technologies of Joplin, Missouri, as president. He is responsible for the overall operation of EaglePicher Technologies and EaglePicher Medical Power.
Moore has 27 years of senior operating, defense and global experience. Most recently, he was president of the surveillance systems group at Axsys Technologies. Moore also served as Kollsman Inc.'s executive vice president and general manager. He spent five years at Kaman Corp. where he ran a $65 million business unit and directed U.S. Navy and Air Force programs. Moore also served in management and operations positions at Westinghouse, E-Systems/Raytheon and Lucent Technologies.
Moore is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He spent a combined 28 years in the active and reserve Air Force where he served in various capacities, including contracting officer in the Office of Scientific Research and as a special agent in a counterintelligence capacity for the Office of Special Investigations. Moore completed his undergraduate degree in marketing and management at Texas Lutheran University and received his MBA from Southern Illinois University.
Langdon Elected as BCI President
Daniel R. Langdon, president of East Penn Manufacturing Co., was recently elected president of the Battery Council International (BCI). He has served on the BCI board of directors for many years. As president of BCI, Langdon follows in the footsteps of the company's chairman, DeLight Breidegam, who served as BCI's president from 1978 to 1980.
Langdon is also currently on the board of directors for High Industries Inc., Offset Impressions Inc., Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Greater Berks Development Corp., and Greater Berks Development Fund. He is also on the board of trustees for Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Langdon has an extensive background in finance and earned his BA in accounting at Lycoming College in 1973. Shortly after, he became an audit staff member at an international public accounting firm. In a few years, his career advanced to accounting and auditing partner at Reinsel & Company CPAs.
He joined East Penn Manufacturing in 1986 as controller and by 1989 was promoted to chief financial officer. In 1994 he assumed the role of president, overseeing the entire company's sales, marketing, and financial operations.
Electric Car Factory Breaks Ground in Kentucky
Work has commenced at the 200+ acre site of an electric car factory at the Wilkey North Industrial Park in Franklin, Kentucky, reports Randall S. Waldman of Integrity Automotive. The one million square foot factory, valued at $100 million, is expected to begin production within 12 months and initially employ up to 1,000 people.
Integrity Manufacturing and Waldman will be the majority stakeholder in this Kentucky-based joint venture to manufacture electric vehicles exclusively for ZAP. To assist in the plant construction, Waldman says the City of Franklin is preparing $76 million in industrial revenue bonds. The State of Kentucky has pledged financial incentives for economic development and job creation.
A prototype electric vehicle proposed for the factory, the ZAP Alias, was unveiled at the August 28 groundbreaking ceremony. Integrity Manufacturing and ZAP are discussing ways to expand manufacturing for ZAP's entire product line in Kentucky. Most of ZAP's manufacturing is currently in China.
Battery for International Space Station Defibrillator
Micro Power of Beaverton, Oregon, has made a custom lithium battery pack specifically for an automated external defibrillator (AED) for the International Space Station that was launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) aboard space shuttle Discovery.
The primary battery pack is a variant of an existing pack already manufactured by Micro Power for a leading AED manufacturer, and was customized to comply with space flight requirements. NASA rigorously tested and approved the battery packs to ensure they would perform to space flight specifications for batteries.
In addition to transporting two battery packs to the International Space Station to support an AED previously positioned on an earlier flight, the shuttle Discovery's flight carried the largest payload so far to the International Space Station and supported three spacewalks.
ABAT Appoints New Chief Technology Officer
Advanced Battery Technologies (ABAT) has named Dr. Suiyang Huang as its new chief technology officer. Formerly the CTO for Shenzhen B&K Electronic Co. Ltd., Huang will spearhead all of ABAT's future technology development plans. The company develops, manufactures, and distributes rechargeable polymer Li-ion battery cells for electric vehicles, mining equipment, and other consumer electronics.
Huang will be responsible for all aspects of ABAT's new product development. He is expected to upgrade the existing ABAT technology, as well as to improve product quality by upgrading production processes. Huang will manage technology standards and production procedures as well as focus ABAT's R&D department towards creating a better battery for both existing and future applications.
He holds a Ph.D from the Universite de Bordeaux, and has over 30 published papers. Huang personally owns seven U.S. and 20 Chinese patents.
New Electrode Structure Could Increase Li-ion Life
QuantumSphere Inc. of Santa Ana, California, has filed a key patent for technology it has developed that extends the capacity of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries up to five times. The filing covers an electrode structure enriched with nano-lithium particles that increases the fuel source in a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, thus increasing battery life. The company intends to commercialize the technology to dramatically improve the operating life of portable electronics, hybrid-electric vehicle range, and other energy storage applications.
"QuantumSphere has created electrodes with much higher lithium capacities than current state-of-the-art lithium- ion batteries, as described in this patent application," says Subra Iyer, principal technologist and co-inventor at QuantumSphere. "In the next phase of our research efforts, we will further improve these anode and cathode electrodes and formulate electrolytes with wide electrochemical windows. All of this is part of a structured research approach to create new high-voltage battery chemistries, enabling both higher energy density and higher power density in next-generation rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, taking advantage of the newly improved anode, cathode, and electrolyte molecular architectures."
Ovonic Licenses Nickel Metal Hydride Technology
Ovonic Battery Company Inc. of Rochester Hills, Michigan, has entered into a patent license agreement in connection with its NiMH battery technology with Unitech Battery Ltd. of the People's Republic of China. Under the consumer battery license grant, Unitech has a royalty-bearing, nonexclusive right to make, use and sell NiMH batteries manufactured in China for consumer applications. All propulsion applications are excluded.
POSCO Completes Largest Fuel-Cell Battery Plant
POSCO is now operating the world's biggest plant making fuel cells for power generation. The fuel-cell battery is a device that obtains electrical energy via a chemical reaction between hydrogen extracted from LNG and methane gas and oxygen in the air. There are several categories, from travel to household use and power generation, depending on power generation capacity. This battery does not produce any pollutants.
The new plant is the world's largest, producing 50MW fuel-cell batteries designed for power generation. It is also the first of its kind in Asia. Total investment was W330 billion, including R&D costs. In 2007, POSCO established a strategic tie-up with FuelCell Energy, the American firm that first succeeded in commercializing fuel-cell batteries that generate electricity.
EnerDel Awarded R&D Contract
EnerDel has been awarded a $4 million research and development contract by the U.S. Department of Defense. The contract is aimed at creating lightweight, high-performance battery solutions for real-time tracking of vital military assets in harsh climates, and creating high-energy batteries to power miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), increasingly critical to battlefield troops.
The Congressionally directed program contract will be funded by the Defense Logistics Agency and administered by The Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center. The single, unified R&D contract covers new "severe-duty" battery technology to replace commercially available cells and high-energy batteries for mini UAVs.
"Like so many breakthrough technologies that are common today, the lessons learned in tough military settings will have major benefits for civilian applications, particularly hybrid and electric vehicles," says EnerDel CEO Ulrik Grape.
In other news, EnerDel plans to locate its new global manufacturing and development operations in Indiana, a move expected to create more than 850 new jobs through 2012. The developer of Li-ion batteries for hybrid, plug-in electric and electric vehicles will expand its Indianapolis research and cell production center, build and equip a battery pack assembly center in nearby Noblesville, and locate a full-scale manufacturing operation in the state.
HP Breaks 24-hour Battery Life Barrier
Hewlett Packard of Palo Alto, California reports that the new HP EliteBook 6930p configured with an optional ultra-capacity battery delivers up to 24 hours of battery runtime.
"All-day computing has been the holy grail of notebook computing," said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, notebook global business unit, HP. "With the HP EliteBook 6930p, customers no longer have to worry about their notebook battery running out before their work day is over."
HP batteries benefit from a combination of HP engineering and energy-efficient notebook components such as IntelÆ solid-state hard drives and mercury-free LED displays. For example, the highly efficient HP Illumi-Lite LED display boosts battery run time by up to 4 hours compared to traditional LCD displays, while the Intel SSD provides up to a 7% increase in battery life compared to traditional hard drives.
mPhase Wins Grant for Smart NanoBattery
mPhase Technologies Inc. of Little Falls, New Jersey, has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) grant, part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, from the U.S. Army for continued development of a reserve Smart NanoBattery for a critical computer memory application.
The $749,700 grant will be used to build a functional lithium Smart NanoBattery prototype for the computer memory application. The target is a small footprint, reserve style multi-cell, 3V lithium chemistry micro-arrayed battery with a minimum 20-year shelf life and uninterruptible power output during this period.
mPhase/AlwaysReady will continue to work with the Energy Storage Research Group (ESRG) at Rutgers over a two-year period as part of the Phase II effort to develop the Smart NanoBattery for this SRAM backup application. This version of the Smart NanoBattery may potentially go into production if Phase II is successfully completed.
East Penn Brings UltraBattery to North America
East Penn of Lyon Station, Pennsylvania, has entered into an exclusive agreement with Furukawa Battery Co. Ltd., a Japanese battery manufacturing company, to release a new battery technology in North America. The UltraBattery, which will be manufactured by East Penn, combines an enhanced power negative electrode in a lead-acid battery.
The new technology enhances the ability of the battery to accept and deliver high levels of power with low levels of electrical resistance similar to a supercapacitor. Traditionally, supercapacitor and lead-acid batteries are separate components relying on electronic controllers and complex algorithms to switch power between both units. This new technology eliminates the need for additional electronic control and multiple energy storage devices.
In certain life cycle tests, UltraBattery, invented by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), the Australian national science agency, and developed/manufactured by Furukawa Battery Co., has exceeded the life cycles of its nickel metal hydride counterpart for hybrid electric vehicle applications. It also uses a less cost-intensive technology and is easier to recycle than NiMH and Li-ion batteries.
Saft Receives 4 Star Supplier Excellence Award
Saft was honored for the third consecutive year by Raytheon Network Centric Systems (NCS) during its Annual Supplier Excellence Awards. The battery manufacturer, which received a 4 Star Award of Excellence, was one of only 19 recipients selected from more than 4,200 suppliers for this year's awards. Award candidates undergo a rigorous assessment process and are judged on criteria, including overall quality, on-time delivery, as well as price and management responsiveness.
Saft supplies its high-energy Li-ion batteries for Raytheon's Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) used by the U.S. military. The rechargeable 28V battery packs power the surveillance, target acquisition and fire control system for the TOW missile. Its highly mobile, adverse weather, day or night capability enables the TOW ITAS to ensure crew survivability through increased standoff range and improved performance in the battlefield.
Sony Opens Lithium-ion Battery Plant in Singapore
Sony opened a Li-ion polymer battery plant in Singapore in August, a milestone in the company's efforts to expand its production capacity for batteries.
The US$105 million plant was designed to produce 8 million cell-phone batteries each month and employ 500 workers. It's housed inside an existing Sony factory in Singapore and is expected to reach full capacity in 2010.
Sony announced plans to build the Singapore battery plant in August 2007, citing fast-growing demand for lithium-ion polymer batteries. About half of these batteries end up in cell phones, while others end up in laptops, camcorders and other electronic devices.
Alongside the new Singapore plant and plans to increase production at a factory in China, Sony expects the added production capacity in Japan to raise its total battery output from a current level of 41 million cells per month to 74 million cells by 2010.
Electrovaya to Make EV Batteries in Norway
Electrovaya of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada has signed a revised term sheet agreement with Miljobil for electric car battery production in Norway whereby Electrovaya will be providing its critical enabling Li-ion SuperpolymerÆ battery technology. The electric car will be marketed globally. Electrovaya will receive equity in the automotive company, along with a license fee and a royalty fee based on the value of the battery.
Electrovaya is a developer and manufacturer of portable power solutions with its Li-ion SuperPolymer battery technology. Its goal is to become the preferred provider of portable power to mobile computing, aerospace, defense and wireless sectors, and to develop alternative energy applications, including UPS, stand-by power, plug-in hybrids and zero-emission vehicles.
Altair Develops Revolutionary Battery for U.S. Navy
Altair Nanotechnologies of Reno, Nevada, a leading provider of advanced nanomaterials technology used in power and energy systems and other applications, has completed the 500th full-depth cycle of a unique lithium titanate battery developed for the U.S. Navy. Altair's $2.5 million contract is funded as part of a $3.5 million U.S. Navy program that includes independent product testing by the Navy. Additional funding of $5 million has been approved by Congress for FY2008. It is anticipated that early next year Altair will deliver a 1MW battery-based energy storage demonstrator.
Strategic Partnership between Optima and Truma
Johnson Controls Autobatterie GmbH and Truma have concluded an agreement on the EU-wide marketing of OPTIMA batteries by Truma within the original equipment and replacement parts business for the camping, caravan and marine sectors. In addition, Truma will assume responsibility for the marketing of OPTIMA batteries where replacement parts for Truma products are concerned.
An early result of this collaboration is the development of the PowerSet for Truma's Mover maneuvering system, equipped with the OPTIMA battery YT S 4.2. OPTIMA batteries is currently the most widely developed battery technology for use in the caravanning sector. The PowerSet is now available at specialist stockists from September 2008.
PowerGenix Signs Deal with Power Eagle
Nickel zinc battery vendor PowerGenix of San Diego, California has signed a deal to supply its non-toxic batteries to Power Eagle International.
The Chinese electric bicycle manufacturer will ramp up American sales through its partner Veloteq and will use the battery technology in a range of electric motorcycles.
The deal will see Veloteq shift away from lead acid batteries in favor of the lighter weight of the nickel zinc chemistry. The new battery technology will decrease battery size by about 40% and weight by 50%, according to Veloteq president Jim Wood.
"Lithium offers the best footprint, but it is too expensive," said Wood "Our products are priced up to $2,300 (£1,300) but the use of lithium would require us to double the cost, and that would scuttle our business."
Con Edison Orders Hybrid Electric Trucks
Azure Dynamics Corp. of Oak Park, Michigan, a leading developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial vehicles, has received an initial order for three units from Con Edison of New York for its Balance™ Hybrid Electric system integrated on Ford's E450 chassis.
Jay Sandler, Azure's vice president of sales, says, "This commitment from Con Edison further demonstrates the versatility and broad application of our hybrid electric solution. The environmental benefits of the Balance Hybrid Electric vehicle provides a clear statement that Con Edison is taking a lead in greenhouse gas reductions."
"Con Edison is committed to reducing its carbon foot-print by using hybrid vehicles and other innovative transportation technologies," said Kenneth P. Jack Jr., General manager of transportation at Con Edison and Orange and Rockland.
Continental Plans Li-ion Cell Production
German car parts group Continental plans to expand its Li-ion battery business in the coming years by settling on a long-term cell supplier and acquiring production capacity for cells, a senior executive told Reuters.
Continental will supply the Li-ion batteries for next year's mild hybrids #8218; ones that still need power from conventional engines #8218; from Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Its expertise in reducing exhaust emissions with next-generation battery technology for hybrids is a key reason why rival Schaeffler is bidding for the company.
"Hybrids could become a billion-euro business for Conti in five years time perhaps," said Karl-Thomas Neumann, head of powertrain and chassis operations at the world's fourth-largest automotive supplier.
Samsung & Bosch Team Up for Car Batteries
Samsung and Bosch have a new partnership that will see them set up a new company solely for the production of Li-ion batteries meant for use in vehicles. The new company will be called SB LiMotive Co. Ltd. with home bases in South Korea and Stuttgart, Germany. South Korea will handle battery production while Stuttgart is in charge of marketing and securing sales for the batteries.
The two companies predict that 1 in 30 of all new cars will be some form of hybrid in the next 7 years and therefore the demand for batteries is going to be very high. The production will be handled in such a way that the components fit together modularly. This ensures that regardless of what car manufacturers decide to do, SB LiMotive only has to come up with a new module to make their batteries fit rather than a total re-design per manufacturer or even vehicle model.
The new company will receive significant funding from both Samsung and Bosch in the region of $300-400 million.
RBRC Names Smith New CEO
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. (RBRC) of Atlanta, Georgia, has named Carl E. Smith CEO effective September 9. Smith, former CEO of Greenguard Environmental Institute, will oversee RBRC's strategic partnerships and manage the national public education campaign and Call2Recycle program. RBRC is a nonprofit focused on rechargeable battery recycling.
"RBRC has recycled more than 42 million pounds of rechargeable batteries since 1996 through its comprehensive national Call2Recycle program, and I know that Carl will be able to further that progress," says Doug Smith, chairman of RBRC.
