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Panasonic Linking PC Batteries Together To Power Cars

 
1,682 views Oct 8, 2009

Panasonic Lithium-Ion Batteries

Panasonic Lithium-Ion Batteries

If Panasonic gets its way, your average laptop battery could be the electric vehicle power source of the future. The Japanese consumer electronics company announced Thursday that it has developed a method of binding standard lithium-ion batteries together (Tesla Motors style), for use in automotive applications.

The company says the new technology should cut EV battery manufacturing costs in half, because it can take advantage of existing production facilities and know-how. Until now, battery packs in EVs have been specially designed and in some cases, assembled by hand, to meet the needs of a specific vehicle. As a result, road-ready electric vehicles have been cost prohibitive when compared to equivalent gas models.

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV lists for the equivalent of $51,000 in Japan before government subsidies. A number of sources have reported that Chevy's Volt plug-in hybrid could sell for more than $40,000. The performance oriented Tesla Roadster sells for $109,000 before tax credits, but that vehicle's production costs were grossly underestimated when it first came to market.

Panasonic says the newly developed batteries should be available within four years, and if your home is ready for it, they'll store electricity from solar panels and fuel cells too.

Sources: Reuters, Green Car Advisor, Panasonic





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Comments (5)

  1. By omnimoeish Posted: 10/8/2009 1:16pm PDT

    All I want is some rechargeable Lithium Ion double As as shown above. What the frick is the conspiracy with the battery makers not selling them? I thought the reason EV makers didn't use PC cells (other than Tesla) is because they only last about 2 years. My laptop battery only lasted about 1.5 years.
     
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  2. By James E Posted: 10/8/2009 2:17pm PDT

    Yes – we will see more articles in the next few years on prices dropping on the Auto batteries. The thing that I do not understand is if they can use existing production facilities then why will it take four years to bring product to market? The current electronic industry is in a down market. They should have plenty of available capacity.
     
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  3. By Bret Posted: 10/8/2009 2:42pm PDT

    When I read this article, I was thinking the exact same thought as James. Why can't Panasonic deliever generic LI batteries right now? And, if it's going to take them four years, why are they wasting our time with a press release? In four years, LI batteries for automotive applications will be in mass production and the prices will be dropping like crazy.
     
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  4. By DC Posted: 10/8/2009 3:38pm PDT

    People, this is all part of the Li-on scam the industy is running. Li-ons are a expensive, guranteed to fail battery tech-see your laptop for more details. The primary goal of li-ons is to keep the price HIGH and thus hinder and slow consumer acceptable of Pure EVs for as long as possible. Chevron needs to be sued for its patent encumbrance of nimh. Li-on is just another in a long line of delaying tactics to keep EV;s on the far margins
     
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  5. By Tim Posted: 10/9/2009 5:49am PDT

    The greater the number of cells, the greater the chance of cell failure and the larger the required cell volume due to dead space between cells.
    Panasonic simply does NOT want to invest in updated large cell format manufacturing lines.
    FREE Market Capitalism/Competition is GOOD!
    Gov't funded/regulated Corporatism is BAD!
     
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