Firefly batteries inching closer to deployment
Still interested in the Oasis batteries from Firefly Energy? As far as we know, the summer release date is still on, especially with all that venture funding. Firefly has figured out how to deal with the corrosion problem that plagued standard lead acids by swapping out the standard lead grid in the batteries withthe Microcell™ composite graphite foam grid. It's this grid that really makes the battery so exciting to a lot of EV enthusiasts, and has been on our radar at least since we spoke with Firefly's co-founder Mil Ovan back in late 2006. Now, Tech Blorge reminds us about the battery and how it will be coming first to heavy trucks, but - hopefully sooner rather than later - for PHEVs and electric cars as well.[Source: Tech Blorge via EVWorld]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lad 4:49PM (6/07/2008)
As I understand it, the original battery was developed in response to problems with cold starts of road construction vehicles. The battery is currently in production and is used in 18 wheelers to satisfy those states that the limit idle time of trucks.
There are many battery factories in the U.S. who could manufacture these batteries; so, why isn't Firefly cross licensing their patent so we all can have the benefit of this great improvement? I can see a large retrofit car hobbyist market, electric lawn tractors, lawn mowers, string grass trimers,etc. There aren't many small engine machines that couldn't benefit from a much improved Lead Acid battery.
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tinman 6:47PM (6/07/2008)
If one looks at their website, consumers/backyard guys like myself won't be able to get these for two more years. Hopefully by then something better will be available so as to simply bypass them.
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ug 11:43AM (6/08/2008)
Yes, they are totally missing the boat. By the time they specifically target the EV market, lithium will have taken over.
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Sean 11:43PM (6/09/2008)
Something doesn't seem right about that. What small company wouldn't want to sell to anyone they could, especially EV applications where they'd sell 6 to 14 units per customer? I can understand not wanting to deal with small fry customers, but that's what retail chains are for. Why do you think some of Interstate Batteries' units are just rebranded 3rd party batteries? Of course, the OASIS has the potential to disrupt Interstate's (and others') entire current lines so I'm not sure the chains would exactly be eager to see these.
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Henry Gibson 2:46AM (6/21/2008)
The batteries were first to be used in electric garden tools, but there no definite word about that either....
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