Battery and ultracapacitor companies get their report cards
The most important part of an electric or hybrid vehicle is often said to be the battery. With all the breakthroughs in energy storage and the emergence of new companies, it can be a difficult field to keep up with. If you are a potential investor or just a curious onlooker you might be interested in how Mike Millikin has graded what he believes to be the top dozen companies in the field.
In a three-part article for EnergyTechStocks.com, the founder and editor of the informative Green Car Congress hands out report cards for the leading battery and ultra-capacitor companies out there today. All the big battery names you read about on AutoblogGreen are represented as well as the secretive EEStor ultra-capacitor folks and impressive upstarts like Valence. While nobody gets an "F," Mike pulls no punches with a frank assessment of each. We thinks he is pretty much "on the money" but if he's slipped up, we are sure you'll let us know.
[Source: EnergyTechStocks.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Davigan 9:52AM (4/14/2008)
The grading feels a little inflationary. I have not done any research on these companies, but Citron Research (which specializes in "uncovering" over-hyped stocks) REALLY doesn't like Valence. Check this out
http://www.citronresearch.com/index.php/2008/04/09/citron-examines-valence-technology-nasdaqvlnc/
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kert 10:27AM (4/14/2008)
Huh, GS Yuasa and NEC are missing, they are doing the lithium batteries for Mitsubishi and Subaru.
Yuasa is one of the biggest battery manufacturers.
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T the D 12:37PM (4/14/2008)
"Mike pulls no punches with a frank assessment of each."
Umm, one B, one B+ and TEN A's? Does that mean all these companies are presently delivering safe batteries, capable of poweing a fully BEV for an acceptable range at anywhere near an affordable price?
Good thing he's not grading on a curve.
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TG 1:14PM (4/14/2008)
Was Mike aware of this? The Germans claim to have solved to lithium overheating problem by going more solid and no leaks too.
* * ISC says it has already created a prototype of a non-flammable lithium-ion battery and will be displaying it at a German trade show later this month. There is still research to be done, though, to further improve the technology's effectiveness. * *
http://tinyurl.com/5rn92u
TomsHardware.com
==========================
Just another **breakthrough** ? = TG
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rgseidl 3:19PM (4/14/2008)
I'm surprised there was no differentiation between cell makers (e.g. A123) and manufacturers of automotive battery packs (e.g. Continental).
@ Kert -
perhaps Mike only graded those companies that are active in the US market. Tesla's missing as well, as is Evonik.
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kert 3:53PM (4/14/2008)
::perhaps Mike only graded those companies that are active in the US
huh ? Hitachi and Panasonic are included. Yuasa is at least as "active in US" as Hitachi.
And Tesla does not manufacture battery cells.
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David Wright 6:12PM (4/14/2008)
Davigan - "Citron Research" is Andrew Left - who usually holds a 'short position' in the companies that he attacks. In other words he has a vested interest in demolishing the companyt's shre price by spreading as much negativity as he can.
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J Bell 9:26AM (10/09/2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFcylXFGTgk
If this is true, what are we wait for !!!!!!
Will this to be bought out again by Big Oil !!!!
Reading the description they can produce up to
3 time the stored energy of any other battery.
That is to said, use almost all the energy the battery can
store !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While all battery other, no matter what type can only give up
1/3 of it's stored energy
I have an electric lawn mower and it can only run for an hour and 15 minutes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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