Autoblog Green

EDTA 2008: EnerDel's Th!nk City

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference, Green Daily, Th!nk (Think)

Click above for high-res gallery of the EnerDel Th!nk City

In the back corner of the EDTA Conference last week was the EnerDel booth featuring the prototype Th!nk City with EnerDel's lithium battery pack. We chatted with Ener1 Chairman and CEO Charles Gassenheimer about the car, the battery packs and the future (Ener1 owns EnerDel).

Gassenheimer told AutoblogGreen that 2009 is the year that EnerDel will turn the corner from a "science project" (as some call it) to a profitable company. EnerDel has received a purchase order for $34 million battery packs for next year, about half of EnerDel's $70 million contract with Norway's Th!nk. EnerDel isn't saying the actual price of its packs, but Gassenheimer said that, "Analysts have estimated that we're selling packs for about $17,500 per pack, so quick math tells you that's about 1,900 to 2,000 packs for next year."

Aside from the Th!nk order, Gassenheimer said EnerDel has, "shipped a battery pack to one of the largest Tier 1s in Europe and they've already installed the pack into a vehicle for testing. What we've done is tried to diversify our customers a little bit so we're not just solely dependent on Th!nk. I anticipate we will be able to announce fairly substantial programs and get into volume production in 2009."

Read more after the jump.

Gallery: EDTA 2008: Ener1 Th!nk City

Continue reading EDTA 2008: EnerDel's Th!nk City

EDTA 2008: EnerDel's Th!nk City originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA 2008: Prototype Toyota plug-in Prius is locked, darn it

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:07:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference, Green Daily

click above image for a high-resolution gallery of the plug-in Prius

At the EDTA Conference this week in DC, a nicely-decorated plug-in Prius sat in the Toyota booth. As you can see in this picture, the prototype was locked and this was duly noted in stickers on each door. We briefly spotted Toyota's Jaycie Chitwood by the car but when we went back to see if there was any sort of update available on the PHEV, we couldn't find her. Thanks to the magic of email, though, we got our update today. Chitwood told AutoblogGreen that, "We've continued our testing of the first-gen prototype, and will be expanding our testing and demonstration program with our 2nd-gen prototype late next year, which will have Li-Ion batteries." Last year, we got to take a ride in the plug-in Prius and we're ready for that second-gen drive when the chance presents itself.

Gallery: EDTA 2008: Toyota Plug-in Prius

EDTA 2008: Prototype Toyota plug-in Prius is locked, darn it originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA 2008: Dueco Hybrid Power truck

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

Click above image for high-res image gallery of the Dueco hybrid truck

For big jobs, only a big hybrid will do. This is where the Dueco/Odyne plug-in hybrid (PHEV) trucks come in. These heavy duty vehicles can save 5-10 gallons of fuel a day, according to Dueco, and that adds up quickly, even with sub-$2 gallons of gasoline. The savings come from the stored electrical energy that can power up the " aerial lifts, digger derricks and other hydraulically powered equipment" that the rigs are outfitted with. The climate control system is run off the battery system as well, so these trucks don't need to idle - getting 0 mpg - at the work site. When in motion, the hybrid system provides launch assist and can store captured braking energy.

Not all is perfect with these trucks. The Dueco PHEV needs a three-phase, 240-volt outlet to recharge at the end of the day and Dueca says (PDF) that they expect the batteries to need replacement once during the life of the vehicle.

Gallery: EDTA 2008: Dueco Hybrid Power truck

[Source: Dueco]

EDTA 2008: Dueco Hybrid Power truck originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA 2008: This is how ChargePoint's public electric car charging station will work

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

Click above image to see a step-by-step gallery of the Chargepoint ystem

Back in May, California-based Coulomb Technologies announced the "smartlet" public electric vehicle charging system. At this week's EDTA conference in Washington, DC, Coulomb has a working prototype on display (it was charging a converted Prius from Green Gears) and we got a step-by-step explanation of how the system will work.

Basically, each subscriber will have an RFID card that talks to the Smartlet. By holding the card, which will have a picture of a key on it, to the space on the charging station where the lock icon is, the system realizes who's plugging in their car and gets ready to charge it. By plugging in your cord and making the connection, a few things happen. First, the system notes that a connection has been made. If this connection is stopped before the owner returns with their card (either by an accident or vandalism), a text message or email is sent to the owner notifying them of the disruption. This will prevent someone else from coming up and stealing your juice by putting the cord into their own car. The plug door on the smartlet locks to prevent accidential disruption and accidents. This door only unlocks when you return with your card, at which time the charging stops and you're on your way. See what we mean in the gallery below.

Gallery: EDTA 2008: ChargePoint Smartlet Station

[Source: Coulomb Technologies]

EDTA 2008: This is how ChargePoint's public electric car charging station will work originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CalCars: US customers could prepay for plug-in hybrids at $10,000 each

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, EDTA Conference, USA

click above image for a high-res gallery of the Ford Escape PHEV

At the EDTA Expo in DC this week, Felix Kramer of CalCars is circulating a proposal to a.) help the auto industry and b.) bring more plug-in vehicles (PHEVs) to market. The idea is for customers to pre-pay for PHEVs now and take delivery by 2012, at the latest. CalCars says the idea would deliver "the fuel-efficient low-emissions plug-in cars people want, using today's technology and today's infrastructure" (read it in full after the jump). While in some ways the proposal is a loan from the end users (us) to the companies, the idea really hinges on making those bailout billions dependant on the automakers actually getting plug-in hybrids to market. They would be "encouraged" to take $10,000 deposits on the highway-speed PHEVs with at least 4kWh battery packs in them. Loan guarantee bailout money becomes available to the automakers once they "commit by year-end 2008 to have at least one eligible plug-in vehicle for sale by the end of 2010 in volumes greater than 10,000." The amount of the loan guarantee is dependent on the volume of prepayments they collect.

So, what do we get out of the deal? Well, aside from potentially saving the auto companies, the proposal suggests a 100 percent refundable tax credit for the $10,000. There would also be tax credits or grants for fleet purchases. Don't say CalCars isn't ambitious: the groups says that, "We aim to enlist five million pre-purchasers. At an average of $10,000, this will generate $50 billion for carmakers. Buyers will get the money back in less than a year via tax credits."

Read the full details after the jump. Then, tell us, would you - today - give Ford or GM $10,000 for an Escape PHEV or the Volt?

Gallery: ABG First Drive: Ford Escape PHEV

[Source: CalCars / Felix Kramer]

Continue reading CalCars: US customers could prepay for plug-in hybrids at $10,000 each

CalCars: US customers could prepay for plug-in hybrids at $10,000 each originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA 2008: The View from Congress

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy, EDTA Conference, USA

It was very likely because of who the audience was, but all the panelists at today's "View from the Hill" seminar at the EDTA show agreed that electric drive is the way to go for the future of the American car. Congressional staffer JJ Brown, from Senator Orrin Hatch's (R-UT) office, Pat Bousliman, the natural resources adviser to the Senate Finance Committee, and Mike Carr, counsel to the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee (he also works for Senator Bingaman, D-NM), spoke about how lawmakers view the options for moving America to cleaner sources of energy. The overall message was that Congress will do what it can to affect change, but that Congress is looking for help from the outside - like the people in the room, for example.

Brown said that Senator Hatch realizes that, "We cannot have an anti-oil policy on the Hill right now." Members of Congress know that ethanol is not a silver bullet, and electric drive is a "great answer" to the problem of oil dependency, but it's exactly that oil that is available right now and will therefore continue to be supported.

Carr added that lawmakers don't want to be in the position of trying to pick the winning technologies - when they've tried to do so in the past they've made mistakes (*ahem*ethanol*cough*). Still, there will be a new comprehensive energy bill started up in the new Congress, Carr said. This is where the EDTA members, and others, can help with their input. We'll certainly be watching to see what the now-Democratically-controlled Congress and President-elect Mr. Change can craft.

EDTA 2008: The View from Congress originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA 2008: GM shows off EcoCar Saturn Vue

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, GM, EDTA Conference

click above image for a high-resolution gallery of the GM EcoCar

Last year, at the end of the Challenge X, GM announced the EcoCar competition for engineering students at universities in North America to rework a GM vehicle to be better and cleaner. The Challenge X teams worked on Chevrolet Equinoxes, but the EcoCar students will all be re-engineering Saturn Vues. In this first year of the competition, the teams are doing the theoretical design work, including life cycle analysis and mechanical, electrical and control work. Starting in June 2010, when Year 2 kicks off, the teams will get their mule vehicles and get to apply their strategies - whether they're pure electric, hydrogen, hybrid or PHEV. The EcoCar Vue on display here at the EDTA show in Washington, DC, then, isn't any different under the hood, it's just all fancy and decorated on the outside. More details on the EcoCar challenge here and here.

Gallery: EDTA 2008: GM's EcoCar

EDTA 2008: GM shows off EcoCar Saturn Vue originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA 2008: Medium Speed Vehicle Coalition makes the case for 35 mph electric cars

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, EDTA Conference, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)

click above image for a high-resolution gallery of the Columbia Mega

Right now, there are two types of electric passenger cars: low speed half-cars that appeal only to a small subset of drivers (see: Miles EV's current lineup, E-Z-Go golf carts, etc.) and highway speed vehicles that are either way too expensive (Tesla) or just being tested by the automakers (MINI E, smart ed, iMiEV). The Medium Speed Vehicle Coalition is pushing for a new, third class: EVs that can go up to 35 mph and have some - but not all - of the safety equipment that "real" cars have. Airbags and crash testing are a good idea, but does a car that can't go faster than 35 mph and would be restricted to streets with speed limits of 35 or slower need electronic stability control? Rick Sikes, Fleet Manager for the City of Santa Monica, told AutoblogGreen that ESC is expensive to add to a vehicle, a cost that most electric car start-ups can't afford.

So, what's the big deal with 35 mph? Currently, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) are electronically-limited to 25 mph and can drive on streets with posted speed limits of up to 35 mph. But, when drivers are on a 35 mph street and someone in front of them is going 25, Sikes said, it's common for them to act somewhat reckless in order to pass. On the other hand, when traffic is going 35 in a 35 zone, everyone's pretty much OK with the situation.

The other main benefit, of course, is that electric cars that can go 35 mph exist today (most NEVs have software that limits their top speed - the motor and batteries could handle the extra 10 mph or, at the most, would need just a bit of tweaking to get to 35) and at reasonable prices. Some of these EVs would need to be buffed up from their current NEV status by adding airbags and whatnot, but if the MSVC gets its wish and the laws are changed, then perhaps EVs like the Columbia Mega (above) that's on display here at the EDTA show could one day be more than a zero-emission curiosity.

Gallery: EDTA 2008: Columbia Mega

EDTA 2008: Medium Speed Vehicle Coalition makes the case for 35 mph electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: Final Overview

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:22:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

All right, my last post on the EDTA Conference is now on the site. From here, I have to get ready for the entirely different experience of the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica this weekend. But, sine I spent the last few days writing about what was on display and what was said at the EDTA Conference (you can see the titles of all those stories in the links at the end of this post) I now realize that there are a few tidbits that didn't find a home anywhere else. And I'd like to share them with you here.

The showroom floor. UQM and the U.S. military brought the converted Silverado truck, and GM was there with their HydroGen 3, but one thing that was really missing from the show were domestic car companies. Hyundai, Honda, Toyota and Lexus dominated the "show floor" (which was in the basement of the hotel and all of the cars were driven inside the building, which makes me very glad they were low-emission vehicles). The best showing by a domestic company, inside, was ZENN (GM and Ford did bring their fuel cell vehicles to the ride and drive). I know that this distinction between domestic and foreign is becoming less and less discernable (Toyota plants in Kentucky, GM plants in Mexico and all that), but the domestics were outgunned by foreign auto companies at EDTA.

Many, many presenters at the conference mentioned the fact that most Americans drive less that 30 miles a day, made up of 3-5 short trips. This statistic, floating on its own, makes it seem like a modest-range EV could really make headway in the market. I'm not discounting this possibility at all, but it's going to take more than the right specifications to sell units. American consumers are not known for buying what they need, but what they want. It's going to take a lot of work and marketing to make LSVs take off, but I think it'll happen in the next few years when the cars get better and cheaper and people realize they can work their lives with an EV..

On PHEVs: One speaker in a session on PHEVs gave the warning that we need to address issues of the actual plug that will be part of these plug-in hybrids. There are differences physical plugs in different countries (esp. Europe), different voltages and safety issues, and questions of how customers will pay for the electricity they get from the grid. Communication between car and the grid needs to be figured out as soon as possible, whether this is through smart meters and/or official electric meters on the vehicles themselves. These issues need to be addressed now; otherwise plug-in hybrids will never really be able to plug in.

Lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the entire conference was made carbon neutral thanks to carbon offsetting by Carbonfund.org's Carbonfree program.

AutoblogGreen's complete coverage of the 2006 Electric Drive Trade Association Conference:

EDTA Conference: Final Overview originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: how to land the fat government grants for advanced vehicle research

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:09:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy, EDTA Conference

Sure, the government has spent a heap of money promoting hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells and other green car technologies. But it shouldn't come as a surprise to many that the federal government has a lot more to give away. One of the sessions at last week's EDTA conference was dedicated to find ways to pork out on these funds. Over 100 people came to listen to Kelly Carnes, of Techvision 21, give the skivvy on these grants, and here's what she had to say.

One of the most important sources of funding for advanced drive vehicles is the Department of Defense, Carnes said, "because the dollar amounts are quite large" (EDTA attendees UQM and Saft America have figured this out).

The next big thing the government is ready to roll out the funding red carpet for is nanotechnology, Carnes said. Nanotechnology is all about understanding and controlling matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. The funding for nanotechnology has gone from around $174 million to the billions since the Clinton era, and total U.S. government investment since 2001 is over $5 billion. But you can't just tell the government that you're working on nanotechnology and get a pile of money. Nothing is that easy. Carnes made clear that receiving federal grants is a complicated process, and because these funding opportunities are competitive and merit-based, there are a lot rules to follow. The grants need to be publicly advertised, and EV firms should look over broad agency announcements (BAA) and requests for proposals (RFP) for the notices. For example, in November, the Army put out a BAA in the vehicle technology area for the next five years. Alternatively, companies can try to arrange a Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) with the government.

The rest of this story follows after the jump.

Continue reading EDTA Conference: how to land the fat government grants for advanced vehicle research

EDTA Conference: how to land the fat government grants for advanced vehicle research originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: Miles Automotive chairman previews 2007 LA Auto Show

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference, Miles EV

The chairman and owner of Miles Automotive, Miles Rubin, gave a presentation at the EDTA Conference that was refreshing because it wasn't a PowerPoint slideshow. I admit those slides are a great way to show graphs and charts to a large audience, but they're also pretty boring. When Rubin got up to speak, he just launched into his and his company's reasons for being in the electric drive business.

Readers will know about Miles Automotive from their OR70 NEV, but Rubin announced that at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late 2007 the company would have something new to show, probably the XS200. This new car probably won't be NHTSA certified at that time, but if it's anything like the car that Rubin said is his company's goal car, then people will be enthused anyway. This goal car can reach highway speeds, has a 200-mile range and has an on-board charger for a battery that lasts 125,000 miles. The estimated price for the XS200 is $28,500. The reason for building a car like this are obvious, Rubin said: electric make sense because the infrastructure exists; if we wanted to, we could make clean electricity; and hydrocarbon emissions are an "absolute disaster" that our children will have to deal with, but we can start working on the problem now.

Rubin said Miles Automotive is working with Chinese battery makers not because labor there is cheaper, but because those companies are "doing wonders" with lithium-ion batteries that are safe and have the range required (Miles' low-speed OR70 has a range of about 70 miles).

Related:

Chinese-made Miles OR70 NEV drawing interest on East Coast

EDTA Conference: Miles Automotive chairman previews 2007 LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: More details on UQM's electric Silverado

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:52:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chevrolet, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

The only new vehicle unveiled at the EDTA conference was the converted Silverado EV, which you probably read about on Tuesday. Since all I had to do was walk on over to the UQM booth for more information on this truck, I didn't miss my chance to learn more about how the Air Force, and now the Army, is looking to make their vehicles greener.

The Silverado on display is a one-of-a-kind vehicle built by UQM in conjunction with the Air Force as a test bed for two technologies: permanent magnet machines and lithium-ion packs, and how they work together. The truck has a 46 kWh pack with 27 Valence li-ion batteries that power a 120 KW propulsion system that offers 650 newton meters peak torque. This power is moved by direct drive to the rear transaxle. The UQM Silverado gets about 150 miles per charge and can do 0-60 in less than 10 seconds, the booth spokesman told me. The truck has bee in the works in Colorado for two years, but only about half that time was spent actually working on the truck. The rest of the time UQM was dealing with contract issue, like threats that the Air Force would cancel the program.

More text and pictures after the jump.

Continue reading EDTA Conference: More details on UQM's electric Silverado

EDTA Conference: More details on UQM's electric Silverado originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: Government solutions for electric drive vehicles

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

Understanding the confluence of the electric drive industry and the U.S. government is at the heart of the EDTA Conference this week. During a working session on Wednesday, a half dozen speakers dissected ways governments of various jurisdictions (city, state and federal) can and do support electric drive vehicles. Here're the highlights.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), a taxpayer-funded utility company, hasn't met an alternative energy source it doesn't like. Bill Boyce, SMUD's electric transportation supervisor, said SMUD has supported EVs at the local airport, has worked to restrict truck idling activities, and is constructing a photovoltaic-powered hydrogen fueling station. SMUD is also big into plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The utility is testing converted Prius vehicles (see below), supports Plug-in Partners, and is helping to test EPRI's Dodge Sprinter Vans (which are medium-sized delivery vans that, according to DaimlerChrysler's Dominique Portmann, get about 26 mpg in the most recent versions). SMUD is even studying how light rail can better store regenerative braking energy.

The story continues after the jump.

Continue reading EDTA Conference: Government solutions for electric drive vehicles

EDTA Conference: Government solutions for electric drive vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: The East Coast GM plug-in hybrid announcement

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, GM, Saturn, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

The media spotlight was on GM Chairman Rick Wagoner and the big announcement yesterday at the Los Angeles Auto Show that GM would offer a plug-in hybrid sometime in the next few years. Over at the EDTA Conference, where such an announcement would have been right at home, the news was delivered to attendees Wednesday afternoon by Pete Savagian, engineering director of GM hybrid powertrains. When Savagian mentioned the announcement, people clapped and cheered. The news seemed to validate a lot of what was going on at the EDTA show, and fit well with Savagian's presentation on GM's hybrid line-up. That line-up looks like this:

Two-mode hybrid: Allison bus (upcoming: Tahoe/Yukon, Escalade, Silverado/Sierra)
Light hybrids: Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra
Hybrid: Saturn Vue, (upcoming: Saturn Aura, Chevy Malibu)
Upcoming plug-in hybrid: Saturn Vue

That PHEV Vue will be a two-mode front wheel drive vehicle that Savagian said would deliver at least a 45 percent improvement in fuel economy and can go about ten miles on electric power alone in certain driving conditions. "There are a whole lot of hurdles to get this car to production," he said.

The upcoming Tahoe and Escalade group is also posing a challenge to GM, Savagian said. Engineers are working to put electric motors into these large truck and SUV vehicles, but they feel they cannot "sacrifice what this segment represents," he said. The challenge - achieved - was to put all of the hybrid components into a space the size of the transmission. Engineers came up with a two-electric motor system that will be on display at NAIAS in January. This system can move the vehicle on electric power alone at low speeds, and will not reduce performance when the engine is fully engaged.

EDTA Conference: The East Coast GM plug-in hybrid announcement originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: Secret effects of EESTOR ultracapacitor info from ZENN Motor CEO

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference, ZENN

At the end of the day yesterday, I snagged a few minutes with ZENN Motor Company CEO Ian Clifford by the EDTA Conference refreshments table and posed the question that Darin left in the comments when I asked what readers wanted to know more about: what's up with this secretive EESTOR ultracapacitor?

Clifford didn't spill all the beans to AutoblogGreen (not enough truth serum on that table), but he did tell us some things that really whets our appetites for more information. The EESTOR technology is something totally new, it "just doesn't exist" right now. It's not lithium-ion or a chemical based battery (it's a solid state ultracapacitor). It is "a significant breakthrough." These tidbits we already knew (see these posts on The Fraser Domain and TreeHugger), but what's less known is how the EESTOR technology will change ZENN.

For one thing, Clifford said, this new power source will allow ZENN to quadruple the range and introduce high-speed charging to their Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs). ZENN will also be able to seriously look at a high-speed platform and make a highway-ready vehicle if the technology is as good as the hushed rumors suggest. Clifford said using EESTOR's tech would add less $1,000 to the cost of a ZENN car and return performance that rivals an ICE. ZENN also has dibs on the technology.

"We have exclusivity in the technology as well up to a 1,400 kilo curb weight, so that's a five-passenger mid-size vehicle and smaller," Clifford said, adding that ZENN has worldwide exclusivity to convert ICE cars to EESTOR electric vehicles.

But why take my word for it? You can hear Clifford yourself in this five-minute MP3 (about 1MB).

And Devin, I've got more information on another all-electric vehicle at the show, the Silverado EV conversion. That'll be up later today. In the meantime, what do you all think of the EESTOR tech? Is it another Segway, or a possible reinvention of the wheel?

EDTA Conference: Secret effects of EESTOR ultracapacitor info from ZENN Motor CEO originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: Screw the Prius. Combat hybrids are "not your mother's hybrid"

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:38:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

Screw the Prius. Isn't that what the image above says to you? This is the first slide in the presentation Glen Bowling, general manager of Saft America's Space and Defense Division, gave at the EDTA conference yesterday. The session he was speaking at, "Defending our Future: Preparedness and National Security" was lightly attended, but I can't say if attendees were simply not interested in the topic or if they stayed away because it was the last session of the day. Whatever the case, Bowling's presentation laid out the clear distinctions between combat hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and "your mother's HEV," like a Prius.

When a military (Saft sells batteries to different militaries, as well as non-military agencies) asks for a battery-powered vehicle, it has specific needs. These combat HEVs are likely to be in unfavorable situations - parked in the sun in the Persian Gulf for six months - and soldiers need them to perform as expected when needed. Combat HEVs often operate in off-road conditions 24/7 and the on-board energy often needs to do more than move the vehicle, like powering field equipment. Users will also want to be able to do field repairs when something goes wrong.

Military planners like HEVs for a few reasons. They're quieter, which is advantageous in combat, and they use less gasoline. The cost of getting a gallon of gasoline to a combat zone sometimes tops $600, Bowling said, so each drop saved is one less expensive drop that needs to be carried in.

Saft has two types of military HEV batteries, both lithium-ion: combined high energy/high power (for PHEVs) and very high energy (for weapons/propulsion). Saft's technology has found its way into the GDLS 8x8 Demonstrator, the BAE System Lancer and the RST-V hybrid, a light Jeep-style vehicle. Bowling said a hybrid tank running on Saft technology (I missed the name, but it's the one in the picture above) is currently "out in the desert, having a good time" and working well. He didn't say whether or not the soldiers were also having a good time in the desert.

Related:

Big 3 boost JCI's li-ion battery project

(Edit: "gasoling" typo fixed)

EDTA Conference: Screw the Prius. Combat hybrids are "not your mother's hybrid" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: Tesla Motors ready to license battery tech to other companies

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

For the Tesla Roadster, the engineers at Tesla Motors decided to go with a batter pack made up of almost 7,000 lithium-ion cells to power the lightweight sports car. Some people approved (how can you say no to an EV that goes 0-60 in under four seconds?), and some people said the decision was a huge mistake. With about 250 Roadsters already "sold" (the car won't be available until late next year), it's obvious some people are ready to invest in this car and Tesla's Energy Storage System technology. So why should Tesla keep the technology to itself? At the EDTA show today, Kurt Kelty, Director of Energy Storage Technologies for Tesla Motors, said that he has been in talks with other companies to license the batteries to other companies.

Kelty told AutoblogGreen that he couldn't say much about Tesla's battery technology or the discussions, because everyone in the company is keeping things quiet. But he did say that to build a safe and reliable li-ion battery pack is a huge challenge, but Tesla has designed the 56 kWh, 366V li-ion pack with redundant active and passive safety features to prevent propagation of a "thermal runaway event" (often known as catching fire). Even if all active safety mechanisms malfunctioned, the thermal runaway event would be stopped by passive safety features. These features have helped the pack pass all eight UN battery tests. Currently, Tesla has 10-20 vehicles in Europe that are being crash tested with full battery packs.

EDTA Conference: Tesla Motors ready to license battery tech to other companies originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: revisiting Altair Nanotechnologies' NanoSafe batteries, Phoenix EV Truck

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Alan Gotcher of Altair Nanotechnologies broke down his company's batteries. Not physically, but verbally and with Powerpoint slides. In a room full of battery experts, Gotcher explained why his company's NanoSafe batteries are the top of the line. No one got up to call him a liar when he described these greatly improved batteries, in part because most of this information has been floating about for a while, and in part because he had the data to back up his claims.

Standard li-ion batteries, like those used in laptops and cell phones, charge in about two to six hours, have a power density of less than 1,000 watts per kilogram (W/Kg), and have a lifespan of less than 1,000 cycles (full discharge). NanoSafe batteries, which use li-ion but have the graphite in the anode electrode material replaced with nano-titanate. This change gives them vastly better numbers. We're talking batteries that can be charged in less than 10 minutes, have a power density of 4,000 W/Kg, and can retain 85 percent of their charge 20,000 charge cycles. Combine this with a wider operating temperature range (between -50 to 75 degrees C) than standard li-ion batteries, an expected life of 12-20 years (depending on use) and batteries that have not smoked or caught fire in any of the standard battery tests, and you've got a battery with great potential for automotive use.

At least one car company thinks so. As we've mentioned before, Phoenix motorcar and Altair will be releasing an electric truck in the spring of 2007 that uses a 35,000 Watt-hour NanoSafe battery-pack. The truck is expected to have a range of 136 miles, a top speed of 95 mph, and a recharge time of less than 10 minutes. These numbers are slightly different that what was reported earlier: a 85 mph top speed and 120 mile range.

More battery news, from Tesla and ZENN, in a little bit.

EDTA Conference: revisiting Altair Nanotechnologies' NanoSafe batteries, Phoenix EV Truck originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: kick off session is 99 percent unbelievably upbeat

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:12:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

EDTA president Brian Wynne officially opened this week's conference with a moment of silence for David Hermance, an engineer for Toyota who recently died while flying his plane off the coast of California. After that quiet moment, the message from Wynne and all of the other speakers at this morning's opening plenary session was up, up, upbeat.

Alexander Karsner, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy (EERE) spoke on behalf of the Bush administration and told the attendees that, "You are in play," which he explained meant that clean cars are hot in Washington. He said that in all of his meetings in the White House and elsewhere today, electric drive topics are/were a part of the discussion. So, the electric drive industry is doing a good job of getting its message to the administration, but the reverse is not necessarily true. The administration doesn't get the message out well enough that President Bush is highly commitment to cleaner vehicles, Karsner said. To that end, the Department of Energy is sending a lot of representatives to the various sessions throughout the EDTA conference. Karsner said he remembered the long lines during the oil shortages of the '70s and said that this type of situation - not being able to fill up your car with gasoline - should never happen again. His point was that, as he said his veteran father used to mutter under his breath while waiting in line, "America can do better."

Next up was John Bryson, chairman, president and CEO of Edison International. EI is a long-time electric drive supporter, getting their first electric vehicle prototype in 1987. Southern California Edison currently has a fleet of about 300 EVs, including many RAV4 EVs and this year, the company took delivery of a plug-in hybrid van prototype. At the company's Rosemead, CA offices, construction workers are building a hydrogen refueling center and company officials support legislation for consumers who buy PHEVs, because of the vehicles' expected higher environmental benefits.

In the next few years, all 4.7 million SCE customers will get smart meters, Bryson said, which give more information than current home meters and will make charging an EV overnight the obvious choice. Electricity is the only alternative fuel with an existing and ubiquitous infrastructure in place, Bryson said and called on all power utilities to engage with automakers since their work is converging.

The last keynote speaker was James Press, president of Toyota North America. Press had gotten up early today and headed to the pool, where he happened to swim with Jimmy Carter, who Press said was "one of my heroes." It was a fitting chance meeting, since a lot of the reasons Press got involved in building cleaner cars were things that happened during Carter's presidency (the oil crisis and Carter's early promotion of clean energy). Press made the bold statement that the goal should be to, "Free the U.S. of the bonds of fossil fuel." The specific items Toyota is working on in this direction that Press mentioned are things we're familiar with here at AutoblogGreen, like the Lexus LS sedan's first full-hybrid V8 engine and that company engineers are aiming for a 50 percent reduction in the cost of hybrid technology by the middle of 2008, but we don't mind hearing them again. If there was ever a challenge the crossed all segments of society, this is it, Press said. And with that we moved on into the breakout sessions.

EDTA Conference: kick off session is 99 percent unbelievably upbeat originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDTA Conference: Q&A with Argonne Lab's Don Hillebrand

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Q & A, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EDTA Conference

On Thursday, Don Hillebrand, director of the Center for Transportation Research at Argonne National Laboratory, will give a talk at the EDTA Conference about the path to commercialization for plug-in hybrids (PHEV). But why wait until then to hear what he's got to say? You can click here and hear him now (MP3 file, 4 MB). Hillebrand met with AutoblogGreen late on Tuesday at the conference and shared his insights on the rumor of GM's upcoming PHEV, the best combination of powertrains for fuel economy and performance, why it's bad that California is already writing standards for PHEVs, new ways to figure fuel economy for PHEVs and more. His coolest idea? A PHEV that knows where it is and where it is going and is able to conserve energy to run exclusively on the electric motor whenever possible.

After you listen, you can read more about Argonne National Laboratory after the jump and check out these earlier AutoblogGreen posts about the lab and Hillebrand:

Related:

Continue reading EDTA Conference: Q&A with Argonne Lab's Don Hillebrand

EDTA Conference: Q&A with Argonne Lab's Don Hillebrand originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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