The concept of being able to charge up a depleted battery without a cord or plug in sight might seem futuristic. But more than a century after Nikola Tesla demonstrated wireless energy transfer, wireless charging systems are becoming a reality for devices ranging from electric toothbrushes and mobile phones to artificial hearts and LCD televisions. For electric cars, a new report forecasts that wireless power stations designed for home installation could dramatically speed up adoption of these vehicles, as I’ve explained in this post for the Translogic blog from AOL Autos.
Category Archives: Energy Storage
Why Can’t We Charge Our Electric Cars Wirelessly?
Posted in Auto, Energy Storage
Tagged AOL Autos, Batteries, Electric cars, Wireless Charging, WiTricity
A123 Spins Off Energy Storage Venture, Drops Chrysler Project
Lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems quietly cultivated a new energy storage venture and set it loose as an independent company. A123 executives revealed in a call with shareholders this week that the startup, dubbed 24M Technologies Inc., was recently spun out of A123 with venture capital financing and a plan to develop what CEO David Vieau called advanced non-traditional lithium-ion based storage technology. As I reported in this article over on Earth2Tech, the executives also revealed that A123 has dropped out of Chrysler’s scaled-back electric vehicle development program.
Posted in Auto, Energy Storage, Greentech
Tagged 24M Technologies, A123 Systems, Batteries, Chrysler, Earth2Tech, Electric cars
Electric Vehicle 101: Know Your Warranty
When it comes to warranties, it’s helpful to think of plug-in vehicles in two general categories: all-electric models with zero tailpipe emissions (such as the Tesla Roadster and Nissan LEAF), and hybrid models that use electricity but also have an internal combustion engine (as in General Motors’ Chevy Volt and Fisker Automotive’s Karma).
For this Earth2Tech article, I’ve explained how California emissions regulations factor into green car makers’ warranty decisions, and reported the scoop that General Motors aims to get what’s called enhanced AT-PZEV designation for the 2013 model of the Volt. The first-generation model of the car won’t carry that status (which can open the door for certain purchase incentives), partly due to the battery warranty.
Posted in Auto, Energy Storage, Policy
Tagged Batteries, CARB, Chevy Volt, Earth2Tech, Electric cars, General Motors, Hybrid Cars, Nissan LEAF, Tesla Roadster
Why A123 Threw Down for Fisker & Who’s Next
Battery maker A123Systems and plug-in car startup Fisker Automotive, which announced a new partnership this week, seem like natural dance partners. Each exists as an outsider in an entrenched industry, they’re both gearing up for a ramp up in 2011 and they share one mega backer — the U.S. government. I interviewed A123′s VP of Automotive Solutions, Jason Forcier, for this Earth2Tech piece analyzing why the battery maker pledged to not only supply Fisker with battery systems and collaborate on a new vehicle, but also to invest $23 million in the startup.
Posted in Auto, Energy Storage
Tagged A123 Systems, Analysis, Earth2Tech, Electric cars, Fisker Automotive
