Batteries
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It's one of the most frequently asked questions by anyone hearing about a modern electric car: do I have to replace the battery? With 15 years of experience in mobile phones and more than that with laptop computers, most buyers know that lithium-ion batteries lose capacity over time. Replacing phone or laptop batteries, generally for less than $100, is irritating but not a deal-breaker. DON'T MISS: 2017 Chevy Bolt EV 10 to 40 percent battery-capacity loss: possible, but unlikely? The specter of replacing an electric-car battery pack costing several thousand dollars, however, may well be. The...
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Supercapacitor energy density could soar using contact-lens polymerU.K. researchers believe the polymer used in soft contact lenses could boost supercapacitor energy density.
Stephen Edelstein -
Used electric-car batteries should be recycled, not reused: report
A new report claims reuse of electric-car batteries for energy storage is inefficient.
Stephen Edelstein -
Why one Finnish city thinks it's ideal for next Tesla Gigafactory
The Finnish city of Vaasa wants to be the location for the next Tesla Gigafactory.
Stephen Edelstein -
Toyota battery R&D will allow all-electric car in 'a few years,' likely 2020
The signals are now unmistakable: Toyota will offer a battery-electric car for sale in 2020. After a decade of condemning electric cars as suitable only for the smallest vehicles in around-town use, the world's largest car company is changing its tune. Yet another news story out of Japan has...
John Voelcker -
Batteries from junkyard scrap metal and household chemicals?
Researchers at Vanderbilt University say they've made a battery using scrap steel and brass.
Stephen Edelstein -
Toyota is one of the world's three largest carmakers, along with General Motors and Volkswagen Group. Having placed its bets for the future of zero-emission transport on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, it's by far the most resistant of the three to the notion of battery-electric cars. But a recent news story might possibly indicate a crack in the company's intransigence. DON'T MISS: 2017 Toyota Prius Prime: first drive of new plug-in hybrid It hinted that Toyota may now plan to offer an electric car beyond the low-range "city car" ghetto it's traditionally assigned to battery-only vehicles. An...
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Electric cars pose 'resoundingly negative' threat to oil companies: analyst Fitch
Electric cars could threaten the oil industry, a leading credit agency believes.
Stephen Edelstein -
So how about all-electric supersonic aircraft, then?
Could supersonic airliners make a comeback with electric power?
Stephen Edelstein -
Nano Flowcell liquid-battery car briefly driven by outsider
A British car magazine briefly drove Nano Flowcell's prototype vehicles.
Stephen Edelstein -
Why lithium-ion cells with hollow cores matter (Apple Car or not)
Apple may be eyeing a new configuration of lithium-ion battery cell for its rumored electric car.
Stephen Edelstein -
LG Chem logs another electric-car win: Faraday Future to buy batteries
Faraday Future will get lithium-ion battery cells from LG Chem.
Stephen Edelstein -
Last month, when Tesla Motors announced new, even larger battery packs for its Model S sedan and Model X crossover utility vehicle, reaction was less than ecstatic. While even faster, even longer-range electric cars are nice and all, commentators said, shouldn't Tesla be sticking to its knitting? Specifically, shouldn't it be focusing every last resource on the $35,000, 215-mile Model 3 sedan it says it will launch before the end of next year? DON'T MISS: Reactions to Tesla 100D versions less than ecstatic: here's why But suppose, as some have quietly pointed out, those two things aren't in...
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Samsung wants to be major battery player, just like LG Chem
Samsung SDI appears to be moving to increase its share of the electric-car battery market.
Stephen Edelstein -
Samsung Hungarian battery plant to open in 2018, perhaps for BMW electric cars?
Samsung SDI plans to open a battery plant in Hungary.
Stephen Edelstein -
Nissan seeks to sell AESC electric-car battery venture: report
Nissan, alone among high-volume electric car makers, owns half of the company that makes the battery cells for its cars. Tesla Motors doesn't own any of Panasonic, which has supplied all cells to date for its three vehicles (though Panasonic owns a small part of Tesla). GM doesn't own any of LG...
John Voelcker -
Electric-drive cars should fuel, charging is 'dead end,' says NanoFlowcell
Well, here's a novel idea for electric-car fans to kick off the week with. Zero-emission cars powered by electric motors shouldn't use batteries that can be recharged, because a public charging network is "a dead end." Instead, they should use flow-cell batteries that can be "refueled" in minutes...
John Voelcker -
Tesla battery gigafactory opens as pace ramps up to ludicrous
If it's built out to the full size in the original plans, the Tesla gigafactory outside Reno, Nevada, will cover 10 million square feet. That's the equivalent of more than 260 U.S. football fields, which would make it one of the largest buildings in the world. Yesterday, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk...
John Voelcker -
Volkswagen reportedly hopes to sell 1 million electric cars within the next decade.
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Tesla battery partner Panasonic expects cell sales to double in three years
Panasonic expects significant growth in its battery-cell sales, driven by demand from Tesla.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla Roadster 3.0 340-mile battery upgrade now shipping
The Tesla Roadster 3.0 battery upgrade is now shipping to customers.
Stephen Edelstein -
BMW electric-car batteries to be used as home energy-storage devices
BMW will use i3 battery packs for home energy storage.
Stephen Edelstein -
Panasonic to build electric-car battery cells at Tesla gigafactory this year: report
Panasonic may begin production of battery cells at the Tesla "gigafactory" earlier than expected.
Stephen Edelstein -
Next Nissan Leaf confirmed for 60-kwh battery, 200 miles of range
The next-generation Nissan Leaf will get a larger battery pack.
Stephen Edelstein
