Full article If these claims are valid, no automaker should claim that the battery technology for PHEVs does not exist. My theory is this: Manufacturer claims that the battery technology does not exist = corporate means of saying "we do not own the patent". Further: US DOE claim that the battery technology does not exist = US playing favorites to US automakers. Again, IMHO, there is no reason (if these claims are valid) W should be pushing ethanol or other polluting technologies at this point. PHEV or EV becomes a reality with these. Thanks, to this site for the initial reference.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wiyosaya @ May 15 2007, 12:31 PM) [snapback]442470[/snapback]</div> I agree -- there seem to have been several announcements like this lately. About two weeks back, A123 (Hymotion PHEV conversions) was quoted in Senate testimony saying that their batteries should last 10 years/150,000 miles. Toyota was quoted in a thread a few days back saying that their (partner's) lithium manganese battery is ready to go for use in the Prius. Altairnano's batteries are going into cars produced for CA fleet sales by Phoenix Motorcars, and where they always said the batteries would do a large number of charge cycles, they now also say they'll last over 20 years. So that's four makers who've announced availability of long-calendar-life high charge/discharge cycle life lithium batteries or confirmed a long calendar life for their existing batteries, in just the last month or so. That I've run across. If they can get to a reasonable price on these, it sure seems to me that EV/PHEV has a lot more potential in the near term than any of the alternatives.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wiyosaya @ May 15 2007, 09:31 AM) [snapback]442470[/snapback]</div> I love hearing about these new developments. I agree with your theory. The only reason these cars aren't being made or won't be made before 2015 is because of vested interests in the status quo. Shame - they could do a lot of good.
If this is true, this will be a major paradigm shift that includes choice of "fuel" for local and short-term transportation, air quality, transportation noise factors; dust blowers used by gardners, boating, and many other applications. Coupled with photovoltaics (also coming along with increasing efficiency) and light mass carbon fiber, we will witness major efficiency gains throughout society. Washington, DC and Detroit, MI, may not get it, but people will stampede toward genuine constructive alternatives.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wiyosaya @ May 15 2007, 11:31 AM) [snapback]442470[/snapback]</div> EV has been a reality for a long time (with 50mi range). This simply makes them so ridiculously the obvious choice, I can only hope the public sees it sooner than later. So far, it's been later.
There's no way the power brokers in this country want this to happen. They're going to try to manipulate the market to do just the opposite of what they're saying (Volt etc.). Thank God for Toyota. These guy's aren't stupid, they know what's coming, they're just trying put it off as long as possible. Not Toyota. I'll have a hard time considering the Volt no matter what it is, I just don't want to give my business to a company that's trying to screw the whole transition up.
