A battery from Intel inside your plug-in hybrid?
Andrew Grove is once again pushing for more plug-in vehicles. The song is similar, but the lyrics are slightly different. Grove is now suggesting that his former company, Intel Corp., make the leap from building microprocessors to manufacturing advanced batteries for plug-in vehicles. Grove is telling the current Intel CEO that building high-tech car batteries is a good way to diversify the compay and to "fill a strategic niche as auto makers shift to production of plug-in electric vehicles."
Back in July, Grove was saying it was a good idea to retrofit tens of millions of old vehicles to hybrid drive. That was before he taught a business class at Stanford on ways to makes electric drive vehicles possible. Sounds like the teacher learned a thing or two in school. Thanks to Andriy for the tip!
[Source: WSJ]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ra Conteur 5:34PM (12/12/2008)
Intel with its deep pockets and innovative engineering staff is an ideal candidate to develop energy storage systems for auto transport. In addition to power management electronics - there are dozens of CPU applications in today's auto designs.
Intel would do well to set aside an R&D unit for battery design and development and a startup profit center to commercialize atuomotive batteries. Great idea Andy!
Reply
Mike!!ekiM 5:42PM (12/12/2008)
This is great, the two biggest new ideas in battery tech. are Ultra-Capacitors and Nano-tech batteries. Intel should have the ability to advance these area's with rapidity.
Plus, Intel runs it's business to be the best, not an also-ran, like some auto companies we know.
Also, there won't be any wacko CEO's at Intel spouting BS about Global Warming being a UN Conspiracy.
kaffeen 12:01AM (12/13/2008)
Being a manufacturer of silicon-based products, it seems more logical for Intel to explore building cheap solar panels. They already have silicon manufacturing technology down pat and supply lines in place. I'm guessing with the economic downturn, they could leverage some unused production capacity to convert into pumping out panels. Building products that generate (clean) energy these days seems like a no brainer, and even with the downturn, solar is still hot. Likely to get hotter when Obama takes office. Just saying...
Reply
Chris M 2:46AM (12/13/2008)
Hmm, considering the proximity of Stanford University to Intel's headquarters, and the recent development of silicon nanowire batteries at Stanford, and Intel's expertise in silicon fabrication....
Maybe he is on to something!
Reply
moogy 9:46AM (12/13/2008)
I like this idea of Intel getting involved.
But for me the real questions is can they make an energy storing device that could power a plane, a transport ship or even trains....???
If we can do this... cars are a walk in the park.
Reply
paulwesterberg 1:57PM (12/13/2008)
trains should use electrified rails like they do already in europe - no need for batteries, probably the most efficient means of long distance transportation.
ships should probably use wind - see computer controlled sails and kites and maybe nuclear, if you can solve the pirate problems.
planes will always be tricky because you need a very high energy to weight ratio. If we had decent passenger rail we wouldn't need them as much.
Electric cars are viable with current battery technology, we just need to standardize battery pack design based on voltage and form factor and then many companies can build competing battery packs based on storage capacity, recharge time and lifespan.