Zap licenses new lithium battery management system
California based Zap! wants to move to lithium ion batteries in their Xebra electric vehicles, and one of the keys to making them work is proper management of the charging system. To that end they've signed an exclusive licensing deal with Danish company Eco Tech A/S. With the support of the Danish government, Eco Tech has developed new control software that works with intelligent charging systems to keep the lithium batteries safe and give them good lifespans. Zap! has their first vehicle with the new system, and is currently testing it. They will be issuing periodic updates on their testing.[Source: Zap!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
billy durham 2:51PM (12/08/2008)
send info on battery management
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Tim 10:45AM (1/24/2007)
I'd much rather be sitting on L-Ion batteries that are INHERENTLY SAFE like the new A123 or Altairnano than worry about the battery controller failing and my car bursting into flame with me inside.
Ever see one of these laptop batteries explode? Watch this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeWq6rWzChw (YouTube search for “laptop battery fire”) Now think of sitting on THOUSANDS of them. If only one fails it would be like sitting in a WWII tank when the ammo magazine is hit. Do you really want to charge one of cars using standard laptop batteries up while it’s sitting in the garage under your apartment building or attached to your home? Who’s going to insure these cars if the controller fails in just one of them?
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JB 2:46PM (7/06/2009)
Here is a much cooler video of a car exploding! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXJPn5TIdKI
kert 2:02PM (1/24/2007)
Regardless of whether the battery is inherently safe or not, a proper BMS helps to extend battery pack life immensely. People from EVlist recently discussed this, even with lead-acid you can get several years of heavy usage out of the pack when properly managed.
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IanJ 8:02PM (1/24/2007)
Tim, do you like anything? There's nothing in this world without risk, you just have to manage the amount of risk to which you're willing to expose yourself. A battery management system sounds like a good way to go with current technology. At least Zap! is doing something, rather than sitting on their hands and complaining that batteries aren't good enough yet.
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Chris M 9:26PM (2/04/2007)
This article doesn't mention which type of LiIon batteries that Zap plans to use, we will find out later which type they will use, old tempermentals or new stable & safe. Either way, proper battery management will extend the useful working life.
The current Tesla Roadster uses over 6,000 standard small LiIon batteries, stored in a sturdy temperature controlled case and sheilded from each other, so even if one of the AA size batteries ignited, the others would remain unharmed. Yes, they've already tested for that, and the safety features worked.
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