Automotive energy sources

Studies of PHEVs

 * 2006 Oak Ridge National Laboratory study suggesting smart charging is required to optimize load on grid

In the News

 * "Automotive World" hybrid news stories
 * "Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), a prominent Boston consultancy, estimates that if the entire U.S. vehicle fleet suddenly became electric, gas consumption would drop 70 percent, and electric-power consumption would jump about 17 percent."

Large Batteries

 * Large Lithium Ion Battery Technology (Exxon, Brookhaven, JPL, Chrysler, Argonne, DOE, and others)
 * Capacitance batteries advocates, in particular EEstor claim 4 cents per watt production costs, half the weight of lithium, 20 minute charges for 200 miles, no degradation due to charge/recharge cycles, .1% discharge per month, non toxic ingredients, and no danger of explosion. No juried papers have been published concerning these claims, so substantial skepticism exists in the research community.  OTOH, Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with EEstor.

Random facts

 * Re Volt battery specification: "The battery pack specification requires no more than 20% battery degradation after 10 years"


 * Re cost of Volt batteries
 * Tony Posawatz, General Motors Vehicle Line Director, Chevrolet Volt: "Posawatz said the Volt's lithium-ion batteries can store about the same amount of power (16 kilowatt-hours) and provide nearly the same vehicle range (40 miles or more) as the EV1's lead-acid batteries. However, the lithium-ion batteries, located under the Volt's chassis and are about a third the size of the EV1's, should last the vehicle's lifetime.

GM has not stated a target price for the Volt, but the lithium-ion batteries alone would cost upward of $10,000 today, Posawatz said."
 * Re Volt replacement batteries, "Mr. Lutz said the price tag would be “more than several thousand dollars, but less than $10,000.” - the Volt has a 16kwh battery, so this is 63 cents per watt hour of capacity.
 * "The Volt's 300-pound battery pack will be among its most-expensive components. Menahem Anderman, a battery analyst based in Oregon House, Calif., has estimated each such lithium-ion pack may cost about $10,000."


 * Volt duty cycle "The lithium ion batteries are managed to not be charged more than 80 percent or less than 30 percent so that they will last the lifetime of the vehicle, according to GM's Tony Posawatz."