Tesla battery charger for US transcontinental electric vehicle range add

Tesla Motors Inc. is building a network of fast-charging stations, owner of his luxury electric cars drive transcontinental this year with equipment able to repower in 20 to 30 minutes to leave them.
The automaker, which this year has tripled in value, also the number of solar-powered compressor stations is tripling by the end of next month so that model S owners can drive cross country sedan, said Tesla in a statement yesterday. The goal is to increase the size and the benefits of the network, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said in a conference call yesterday.""We are not only geography add, we are the density on well-traveled routes add", musk said. "Will take all of Los Angeles to New York only the compressor network."

Tesla needs a wider network of charging stations to customers through California and the northeastern United States, where it now refuelling spots appeal. Without such stations, Tesla drivers through an estimated 265-mile are limited (426 km) range from a single battery charge.
The first group of new stations, it is added in California; between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas, Dallas; Illinois; and Colorado, the company said. You cost about $300,000, including solar panels, said musk.

"Six months Tesla compressor will most of the major areas of the Metro in the United States and Canada network connection," said Tesla in the statement yesterday.
"Alleviate concerns"

Tesla, based in Palo Alto, California, rose 0.3 per cent to $104,95 at the end of yesterday in New York. Tesla has compared won index 210 percent this year with an increase of 16 percent for the Russell 1000.
Now, owners said nine stations free electricity for model S and the company plans to have stations for "Almost the entire population of the United States and Canada until next year," Tesla in the statement. The electric car manufacturer previous target 100 stations by 2015 happens now "twice as fast as originally planned," musk said on the call.

"I think that more Superchargers helps to relieve range anxiety concerns, so it's probably a sensible use of cash", Ben Schuman, analyst at Pacific Crest securities in Portland, said the prices Tesla sector perform. "It's hard to argue that Tesla owners benefit more charging infrastructure does not."
The announcement by musk, who is Tesla's largest shareholder, follows a series of events this month, put the Tesla of the most financial security since its inception a decade before.

First win
The carmaker first quarter profit followed a top rating from consumer reports for the model S and a stock price surge. Creates an opportunity for $1 billion from the sale of equity and debt capital to increase investor demand and U.S. Department of energy be loan nine years early retirement.

While Tesla in the premium segment car works, there as assets of the company improve, Tom Turrentine said Director of the California Energy Commission plug-in-hybrid & electric vehicle Research Center at the University of California, Davis, certain "Spillover" effect for all plug ins and electric vehicles.
"This makes electric and electric cars cool, gives them some cachet," Turrentine said. "The free network is probably a relatively small cost for Tesla, but it carries a big, positive story."

Charging stations
The carmaker, named after the inventor Nikola Tesla began after the Chargers open Tesla's Web site last year, including six on California highways and three in Connecticut and Delaware.

Currently, it allows a car at home, be repowered in a fraction of the time, provide for 150 miles of driving range in about 30 minutes with current flows at about 400 volts. Fully recharge a model S, price of $69,900, takes up to eight hours with a 240-volt home download system.
With 100 stations, revealed Tesla cross-country highways including Interstate 80, Interstate 90, which runs from Seattle to Boston, from San Francisco to Teaneck, New Jersey, stretches with around 20 stations each if they are placed every 150 miles. Interstate 75, from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the vicinity of lead may be about 12 stations.

At 150 miles per charge a Tesla driver covered the distance of from Los Angeles to New York with intermediate stops at less than 20 charging stations, depending on the route. A driver of a conventional car with a 400 km range could make the drive with only seven tanks of gas.
Chargers everywhere

"Tesla continues to make progress in reducing the anxiety of range anxiety for consumers who hesitate to buy an electric car", said Alec Gutierrez, an Irvine, California - based senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book. "Is built up a network nationwide, consumers can't wait several hours for their vehicles to recharge requires, it is still consumers to purchase a stay at the edge and more mainstream vehicles."
The ability to drive an electric car coast to coast is not so much as standard charger from public to make more ubiquitous said Don Anair, Research Director for the clean vehicles program of the Union of concerned scientists in Berkeley, California.

"Zombie Apocalypse"

"Most people don't go that far from home on a regular basis, but want to know that they not problems with their vehicles under normal circumstances", Anair said.

Use of Tesla's compressor is fitted as standard with high-end versions that have the model S, a 85-kilowatt-hour battery pack and are priced from $79,900. The Chargers can with a 60-kilowatt-hour battery pack as a $2,000 option.

Owner repower installed for free their cars at the stations powered by solar panels and maintained by SolarCity Corp., where musk is also the Chairman and biggest investor.

While not all Superchargers first receive energy from solar panels, this function in the long term is added to musk said yesterday. You batteries store electricity and be completely from the mains of the electrical transmission, also have, he said.

Drivers will use the stations even with "Zombie Apocalypse", he said.

Network charging voltage for the time being this is a novelty for some wealthy model S owners more Turrentine said.

"In reality are many people who use it are people who would normally fly in their personal jets," Turrentine said. "they can now between Palo Alto and L.A. or Las to Vegas and then tweet about it."

Copyright 2013 Bloomberg

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Wanxiang wins the U.S. Government approval buy battery manufacturer A123

Approval from CFIUS, was the last hurdle that had to be overcome in order to conclude the transaction Wanxiang, as he is known. The Federal Interagency Group, led by the Treasury Department was selling review, after members of Congress allow national security concerns to get a foreign competitor with State protection technology developed.

Wanxiang, the bankruptcy court approval of the acquisition Dec. 11 completed who said in an e-Mail yesterday, pin NI, President of the US unit Wanxiang America Corp., buying won,. Wanxiang America, the A123s purchased automotive, grid, and commercial assets for approximately $256,6 million. A123 and Wanxiang tries to placate Congressional anxiety by excluding the battery manufacturer Government shops out of the deal at Woodridge, Illinois-based Navitas Systems LLC for about 2.25 million $ was sold.
"We are pleased the Government has completed its review and has with us the go-ahead to this transaction complete," NI said in a statement. "The future is bright for A123. It is a company with extraordinary talent and potential and Wanxiang America is committed to its long-term success and the continued existence of their U.S. operations."

Thing itself sunk
The Waltham, Massachusetts-based battery manufacturer bankruptcy in October after a previous agreement with Wanxiang in the midst of Congressional Republicans allow reluctance, sale to a Chinese company sunk has been filed. A123 listed assets of $459,8 million and debt of $376 million status: Aug. 31 in court documents.

"Provided by CFIUS has nothing my opinion after changing the core technology from A123, developed" and related intellectual property "be separated fields of business can along A123s" said representative Bill Huizenga, a Republican who represent Michigan 2nd Congressional District, in an e - sent statement. "American taxpayers not technology, which in turn are used to compete against American companies should be medium", he said, adding that he in the legislation funded "sensitive technologies" for foreign companies in the future to prevent search sales by the taxpayer.
Federal grant

A123, received a federal grant of more than $249,1 million and only $ 132 million $ for two plants in Michigan, instead of a December auction where Wanxiang beat a joint bid by Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls Inc. and Tokyo-based NEC Corp.
"The Department of energy recovery Act grant for A123 was used for the construction of brick and mortar advanced battery production facilities at two sites in Michigan," Bill said Gibbons, a spokesman for the Department in one via e-Mail statement. The funding for research and development of battery technology of the company used were not, he said.

"With the purchase of these assets of the Department of energy request, which includes the equipment and devices that are part of stay paid in Michigan Recovery Act and continue to operate," generating job opportunities for American workers, Gibbons said.
Joint venture

In the context of the purchase, Wanxiang get seat in Hangzhou, China, A123s, plant in China and its stake in a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., Shanghai advanced traction battery systems co. called cathode powder used in addition to the battery technology in Fisker Automotive Inc. Karma sedan.

Fisker, A123s main customer, said that it was expected the sale of the company's Michigan plant, so it plug production of the $103,000 - sedan could resume in karma.
A123, whose automotive-Geschaft delivers electric car batteries in about a dozen customers, has facilities in Michigan cities of Livonia and Romulus.

The grid business is focused on power generation, transmission and distribution while the commercial Division develops products for industries such as telecommunications, industrial robotics and power tools, according to the court papers. A123 has worked with the Government on portable power solutions, unmanned aerial vehicles, pulsed power weapons, as well as small energy cell for remote devices.
The case is in terms of A123 Systems Inc., 12-12859, U.S. bankruptcy court, district of Delaware (Wilmington).

Copyright 2013 Bloomberg

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MHI and SSE partner Orkney Islands power cargo container battery storage install

According to a press release issued by MHI, there three are involved overall container-project: two of the container home is about 2,000 units of lithium ion batteries and a third House is the air conditioning system that makes responsible for converting direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).

The storage system is set, the Kirkwall installed power plant in the UK Orkney Islands. Power is always a lack of profit making or to the and be transferred from the Mainland via a u-boat cable. In theory, the storage system is excess energy in the lithium-ion batteries should, if needed, provides the supply exceeds an increased degree of reliability for future performance.

The problem of storing energy in the heart of one of the biggest perceived weaknesses of the renewable energy technologies calls: If the wind is not blowing whats happens when the tide is not rotating, and when the Sun isn't shining is? According to Michael Goggin, Manager of transmission policy with the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), energy storage systems such as that developed by MHI and SSE work well in certain situations, but in others it may be actually less cost effective than alternative methods.

"Integrated power system on the Mainland, there are many existing sources of flexibility, so that new energy storage resources are not required to accommodate the very small amount of variability and uncertainty," Goggin said. "Storage is an option to increase a system's flexibility makes it and using it makes sense when it is more cost effective." However, other options, particularly the greater use of the existing resources are or building more transmission, usually less expensive on large integrated makes systems."

After the AWEA of "wind power and energy storage" Factsheet allows built into the existing system of power increase flexibilities operators or reduce the output of generators. This makes it more space for certain variability possible, easy, and inexpensive.

Goggin went on to say that he believes that systems can benefit from the power of the island far better from energy storage systems. "they have no connection to the outside world and have often weak transmission systems and inflexible power plants," he said, "so that it tends to be more cases where can be economical storage."

MHI/SSE shared memory system is to go online early 2013.

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Battery Maker A123 Systems Files for Bankruptcy

The filing may fuel further political debate over government financing of alternative-energy and transportation businesses. Federal grants and loans to companies including A123, Fisker Automotive Inc. and Tesla Motors Inc. have drawn scrutiny from congressional Republicans following the September 2011 bankruptcy filing ofsolar-panel maker Solyndra LLC two years after it received a $535 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Energy Department.

“This action is expected to allow the company to provide for an orderly sale of the automotive business assets and all other assets and business units,” A123 said in a press release. Johnson Controls Inc. plans to acquire A123’s automotive business assets in a deal valued at $125 million and will provide financing of $72.5 million to support A123’s continued operations, according to the release.

The company listed assets of $459.8 million and debt of $376 million as of Aug. 31 in Chapter 11 documents filed today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Waltham, Massachusetts-based company said yesterday it expected to fail to make an interest payment due yesterday on $143.8 million of notes expiring in 2016.

Shares Fall

A123 fell as much as 17 cents, or 73 percent, to 6 cents a share in over-the-counter trading as of 10:48 a.m.

A123, which received a $249.1 million federal grant in 2009 to build a U.S. factory, needed a financial lifeline after struggling with costs from a recall of batteries supplied to Fisker, the plug-in hybrid luxury carmaker. A123 announced in August that it was working on a deal with Wanxiang Group Corp., China’s largest auto-parts maker, for financing in exchange for a majority ownership stake.

Wanxiang plans to invest as much as $465 million in A123, giving the Hangzhou, China-based company a stake of as much as 80 percent, A123 said in an Aug. 16 statement. In yesterday’s filing, A123 said it was considering strategic alternatives including “one or more potential transactions” to address its liquidity problems. There is “no assurance” that A123 will be able to find a way to continue to operate its business as a going concern, the company said.

The company and its debtor and non-debtor affiliates, collectively, have about 1,763 active employees, located in 10 facilities across the U.S., China and Germany, according to court papers. Its businesses consist of three primary business segments: transportation; grid energy storage; and commercial.

A123 Securities Corp., a non-operating company that holds a large portion of the company’s cash, and Grid Storage Holdings LLC, a shell entity formed “for the sole purpose of facilitating certain contemplated grid projects which ultimately were not completed,” also sought protection, according to court papers.

Obama’s Call

President Barack Obama called A123 Chief Executive Officer David Vieau and then-Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm during a September 2010 event celebrating the opening of the plant in Livonia, Michigan, that the company received the U.S. grant to help build.

“This is about the birth of an entire new industry in America -- an industry that’s going to be central to the next generation of cars,” Obama said in the phone call, according to a transcript provided by the White House. “When folks lift up their hoods on the cars of the future, I want them to see engines and batteries that are stamped: Made in America.”

Electric-vehicle sales since 2011 totaled fewer than 50,000 through September, just 5 percent of Obama’s target to have 1 million such vehicles on U.S. roads by 2015.

The debtors’ two largest customers are Fisker and AES Energy Storage LLC and its affiliates, which accounted for about 26 percent and 24 percent of their total revenue during the year ended December 31, 2011, respectively, court papers show.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said last month that Obama has picked “losers” for alternative-energy loans and grants. His running mate, Paul Ryan, has called for all green-energy subsidies to be eliminated.

A123 has posted at least 14 straight quarterly losses. Its shares have fallen 85 percent this year to 24 cents at yesterday’s close in New York and traded at 16 cents at 8:29 a.m. before the start of regular trading.

The case is In re A123 Systems Inc., 12-49658, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).

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Is lithium-ion battery Borgia?

Is it a battery or a WMD?
On 11 April, five employees of advanced battery lab in general have been violated Motors (GM) Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, when extreme tests of a prototype-lithium ion battery pack from A123 systems (AONE) chemical gases released, which exploded in a test Chamber. Four were treated at the scene, and one was taken to a local hospital. The injuries were not life threatening.

About 1,100 employees who were Warren in the plant evacuated, while spent four hours take a HAZMAT team air samples inside and outside of the building. While most were the evacuees in the location, again to work, it is not clear, how long it take approximately $5 million and recovery of operation to repair damage to the battery lab.
GM got the media quickly, that the incident include no battery for the GM-Volt and technically there was no battery explosion at all. Engineers were simply carrying out extreme overcharge on a prototype battery and failed, that is exactly what you would expect.

Or is it?
The fact that it was a fault ventilated gases ignited surprised me not. The fact that the explosion was violent enough, lead to major structural damage to a special facility, which was designed, to the occasional battery explosion safely manage is very worrying. The chemical composition of the gas that supposedly the explosion a nightmare is caused. That is frightening, that these problems are ignored, or Volt is Vice at least under the carpet to protect the battered image of the GM.

On Friday of the 13th torque News reported:
"Not actually the battery involved in the Wednesday morning explosion gases in the test chamber explode but rather lit and the massive explosion created caused." While the extremes of collected in the field test testing process hydrogen sulfide gas and when the gas ignited - we had violated the massive explosion, the five clouds and Energy Center has significant damage on the alternative test surface, including Windows and at least a thick door 8 "blow out." "Then show the reports that the battery was still intact."

It may be just my lawyer fascination with words and sentence structure, but sentence 2 of this paragraph sounds sure one know unattributed direct quote from someone at GM.
I'm not a chemist, but I have disaster significant oil and gas experience, including three years as legal counsel for boots & coots, the largest oil field response company in the world. Based on experience, I know that gas hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is:

The reason smelly rotten eggs;Explosive at concentrations of 43,000 to 460,000 PPM; Known AndOne of the most deadly poisons to humans.In the United States ban occupational health and safety regulations exposure to H2S concentrations of 100 PPM without a fully face masterpiece pressure demand breathing apparatus.
A Wikipedia search shows that PPM olfactory, smell to slay; paralyzes a H2S concentration of 150 nerve 800 PPM is the lethal concentration for 50% of people with five minutes of exposure; and concentrations can cause over 1,000 PPM immediate respiratory arrest after a single breath.

H2S sudden death by poisoning in 2.3% of the concentration of an explosion requires.
If a comparable error in a driving car has occurred, the driver would be incapacitated for work in seconds, while his vehicle in a crowded bar bar click before you explode.

I know that nothing inherently dangerous in the anode and cathode materials for today's advanced lithium-ion batteries. In fact, was I surprised at the reports that a lithium-ion battery lead enough H2S gas to an explosion could generate. When I started to ask questions, but I have learned that the electrolyte could any number of accessories, separators, binders, fillers and additional cell materials very toxic fumes from a faulty cell or battery pack released.
The active materials can wonderfully in her own right, but everything, what in a cell goes for his ability, chemically interact with other cell materials and provide a serious threat to human health and safety carefully must be evaluated.

We know the process at least once failed.
GM's "Accident" may be a unique curiosity when it was examining an exotic lithium-sulphur battery or something else that fundamentally from conventional lithium-ion batteries. There may be only the tip of an iceberg, the first example of the unintended interactions between cell components that can make large-format lithium-ion batteries for use in cars or other closed areas too dangerous.

100 years ago, the Titanic as a miracle of technology was announced until in April 1912 forced engineers their basic assumptions in question make a completely unexpected turn of events. I believe that the explosion of the GM at least some soul searching should force.
For four years I have heard of lithium-ion battery talk nothing but security manufacturers, ideologues, politicians and would-be end users. This is the first report that I have seen that threatens, the bubble burst. When H2S is generated gas in the GM advanced battery lab, we need to know how much gas H2S was generated, how it was created and how long the process took. We need also a security to know whether similar problems in large-format lithium-ion can exist third-party batteries. I understand that each battery manufacturer in their secret sauce would keep proprietary recipe, but a time comes when customers is the safety priority competitive advantage.

I am the first to admit deep confusion about the facts that have been reported so far. But it seems a consensus that a poisonous gas was generated by a faulty battery, test concentrations at explosive levels in the Chamber rose and the resulting explosion 2009 built large structural damage to a plant that causes and developed to catastrophic battery failures.
In these circumstances I believe, that of a political, ideological or economic interest in the safety of lithium-ion batteries don't you have someone, most ball and run an extensive independent survey to find out what happened and whether there are similar risks in the battery packs used by Fisker motors, Ford (F), Tesla Motors (TSLA), Nissan (NSANY.)PK), Toyota (TM) and others. I can only hope that an upcoming NHTSA technical symposium with battery manufacturers and automakers more rigorous regulatory oversight at the beginning will mark.

Borgia battery? Inaccurate descriptions of reporters? Prototype test a truly unique battery chemistry? Or simply a conventional automotive grade lithium ion battery, the boundaries of the design and not spectacular? The difference is understood to be, before we go much further.

This article was first published in the edition of spring 2012 the batteries international magazine and Publisher thank Mike halls and cartoonist Jan Darasz for their contributions.
Disclosure: None.

DOE-Backed EV Battery Maker Opens New Plant

DOE recognized on February 14 EnerG2, which recently opened its new manufacturing facility for electric vehicle (EV) battery components. Supported in part by $21.3 million in DOE funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Albany, Oregon, facility will produce nano-engineered carbon materials for batteries and other energy storage devices that can be used in EVs. EnerG2's proprietary freeze-drying process to make its specialized carbon material was developed in laboratories at the University of Washington. At full capacity, the EnerG2 plant is expected to be able to produce enough advanced carbon material to support 60,000 electric drive vehicles each year.

EnerG2 is one of 30 advanced battery and electric drive manufacturing facilities supported by the Recovery Act. At full scale, these factories will be able to supply batteries and components for more than 500,000 electric drive vehicles. This support for both manufacturing and research and development is contributing to the revitalization of the U.S. auto industry and will help meet President Obama's goal of reducing oil imports by one-third by 2025. See the DOE press release and the Vehicle Technologies Program website.

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DOE's advanced battery start energy innovation hub

Innovation to start a hub for cutting-edge research on batteries and energy storage, with an investment of up to $120 million over five years announced their plans for a new energy DOE on 7 February. Hub focus on accelerated research and development of electrochemical energy storage for the transport and electricity the batteries and energy storage. The hub is financed at up to $20 million in fiscal year 2012, and guided by the basic energy Sciences programme he DOE's Office of science.

Universities, laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and private companies are allowed to compete and are called on partnerships, when submitting their proposals. Interdisciplinary research and development hub conducted over the new energy innovation will help to advance innovative energy storage and battery technologies. These technologies can be employed to improve the reliability and efficiency of the electrical network; Technologies for renewable energy, better as part of the electrical system to integrate; and the nation reduce dependence on foreign oil with electric and hybrid vehicles.

Energy innovation hubs to scientists and engineers in intellectual disciplines to quickly accelerate scientific discoveries and shorten the path from the laboratory with technological innovation to bring development and commercial deployment of critical energy technologies. With applications by 31 May 2012 full due 1 March 2012, apply the declarations of intent. The award selection is expected this summer. Find the press release of DOE, the funding opportunity announcement and the energy innovation hubs website.

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Electric Vehicle and Lithium-ion Battery Investing For Imbeciles

Her 1969 best-seller "the Peter principle" student named Caesare quoted in Laurence Peter and Raymond hull Latin American Innocente, the defendant, "Professor Peter, I am afraid that what I want to know by my studies will be answered." "I do not know if the world is run, by intelligent men who say Americans like you put us on, or from idiots who really mean it." After just the events of recent weeks, think I agree with most of my regular readers that the idiots are steering clear of the ship.
In March of this year, I went at the Geneva Motor Show press day, a chance gave me that up to see cars up close and personal without a struggle of the masses. While I'm generally skeptical when it comes to electric cars, I left Geneva convinced, that which was Fisker karma of the most beautiful car I had ever seen. I promised even my inner geek, I secretly one would for a test drive once that began production. The last remaining mid-October was granted hurdle to the EPO its official fuel economy rating 52 MPGe for the electric field of 32 miles and 20 MPG for gas travels with the 2.0 litre onboard generator powered by.

I was crushed. How could such terrible fuel industry something so gloriously and green review?

The answer, it seems is that when the Karma on a scale it a few hundred pounds more than a Hummer H3 and a few hundred pounds less than a Cadillac Escalade weighs. That's right folks: it's a 5,300 pounds-behemoth, developed ATVM loan guarantees in California with $ 169 million from the Department of energy. While most of the long-term economic benefits from the production of this shocking green monstrosities outsourcing to Finland, at least, that the batteries in the United States from A123 systems (AONE) the car is a $ 23 million investment in Fisker to establish a strategic partnership and the battery supply contract.

If journalists and political experts questioned the appropriateness of the loan guarantee Fisker in question, the DOE says:

"The Fisker loan consists of two parts." In the first part to the Fisker 169 million to support the Fisker Karma developed the tools, equipment and production processes for Fiskers first vehicle, the engineers. The work took place Fisker of U.S. equipment, headquartered in Irvine, California, employs 700 employees and plans to continue setting. While the vehicles even in the Fisker overseas form workshop are mounted, the funding of the Department was used only for the US operations. The money may not be, and was not spent business. "The karma is also an extensive network of hundreds of suppliers in more than a dozen States."

To use to fund specific project jobs in California, while in the long term, jobs in production in Finland is of course create the sophistry taxpayer money. The problematic questions in my mind are:

How many $100,000 Karma must sell Fisker enough profit to 169 million in DOE loan pay back to earn?
A123 must as many battery packs Fisker to sell to, if it wants to recover his 23 million US dollar investment?
Gets just as sexy and expensive the lackluster sales and margins, Motors (TSLA) has carried out from his Roadster Tesla either result even in the remotest possible?
This was clearly a range of offerings from idiots who really mean it negotiated. The most outrageous defense of the penultimate paragraph of that says was part of the DOE:

"Keep in mind that plasma TVs, mobile phones, PCs, and many other common products were fabulously expensive luxury, but quickly became a staple for middle class Americans." "These price declines would be commercial marketing as premium products not have been possible without the scale of the first."

MUMPITZ! I expect that this type of Bafflegab of EVangelicals but not from government officials.

There is no way the electric vehicles always types of cost reductions that we deliver in the information and technology revolution to experience, since the basic scientific completely different. There are to move a 2.65-ton van on the road no Moore's law of physics. There is no Moore's law for electrochemistry. It is no good fairy world production of non-ferrous metals or increase control commodity prices. But discussing science, supply chains and energy instead of rational, reasonable questions we have with the DOE's path-folding mirror

A little over three years ago I started cautioning readers that Ener1 (HEVV.PK) was a disaster in the making. My cautions got more strident when Ener1 made a substantial venture capital investment in Th!nk Motors to strengthen their strategic relationship and retain a battery supply contract that was jeopardized by Th!nk's insolvency. While some readers took my words of caution to heart, many did not. This week they learned that analyzing battery and electric vehicle companies through rose colored glasses is a great way to end up with a stock that's listed on the Pink Sheets. While I generally like to be right, I hate being this right.

I wonder how the DOE feels about that $118.5 million ARRA Battery Manufacturing Grant they gave Ener1 in August of 2009.

My graph for this week is courtesy of Lux Research and appeared in their recent report "Using Partnerships to Stay Afloat in the Electric Vehicle Storm." The graph is particularly instructive because it overlays their forecasts for the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery markets in a single graph.

The yellow lines represent total demand for lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications through 2020 using three different oil price scenarios. The blue shaded area represents the total planned production capacity of the global lithium-ion battery industry for the same period. The inescapable conclusions are that (1) without $200 oil, growth in electric vehicle sales will be tepid at best and certainly not robust enough to justify nosebleed market capitalizations for companies like Tesla, and (2) the glut of lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity will be a crushing burden for all but the most efficient and financially sound battery manufacturers.

While Pike Research recently reported that demonstration projects have deployed 538 MW of lithium-ion based storage on the grid, all of the facilities I've read about report power based on a 15 minute discharge. That means the demonstration projects have used about 135 MWh of batteries to date, or less than 1% of the expected annual capacity glut. While grid-based storage may have significant long-term potential, it's not a big enough short-term opportunity to make a difference.

The takeaway for investors who are willing to remove their rose colored glasses is that the industry leaders in the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery sectors are run by imbeciles who really mean it and their companies are doomed to underperform the market for years. Molly Ringwald was Pretty in Pink, but it's an ugly color for stock listings

Little more than three years began I warns readers that Ener1 (HEVV.)(PK) was a disaster in the making. More have my notes strident, if Ener1 is a significant venture capital investments in th! NK engines to strengthen their strategic partnership and keep a battery supply contract, which was endangered by th! NK insolvency. While some readers my words of caution to heart began, many do not. They learned this week that the analysis of the battery and electric vehicle is through rose colored glasses a great way to end up with a stock that is listed in the pink sheets. While I generally may be true, I hate this right.

I wonder how the DOE on this $ 118.5 million feels ARRA battery manufacturing grant she gave Ener1 in August 2009.

My chart for this week is courtesy of Lux Research, and appeared in their recent report "using partnerships stay afloat in the electric vehicle storm." The diagram is particularly instructive because it overshadowed their predictions for the electric vehicle and lithium battery markets in a single chart.

The yellow lines represent the demand for lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications by 2020 with three different oil price scenarios. Blue shaded part represents the planned production capacity of industry of global lithium ion battery for the same period. The inevitable conclusions are (1) excluding $200 oil, electric vehicle sales are lukewarm at best and certainly not robust enough, to nosebleed market capitalization for companies like Tesla, and (2) the tide of lithium-ion battery, the production capacity is a heavy burden for all but the most efficient and to justify financially sound manufacturer battery.

During Pike research recently reported that demonstration projects, 538 have deployed MW lithium ion-based storage on the grid, all the facilities I, the report on the basis of 15 minutes discharge read about the power. This means that the demonstration projects about 135 MWh batteries to date, or less than 1% of the expected annual capacity used glut have. Grid based storage have long-term potential, is not a large enough short-term way to make a difference.

The food for investors who are ready to remove their rose-coloured glasses is that the industry leader in the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery run by idiots who really mean it and are their businesses to damn, exceed the market for years. Molly Ringwald was pretty in pink, but it's an ugly color for has offers

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