Kirk Lindstrom

Li-ion Batteries and How Cheap Beat Cool in the Chevy Volt

"...the basic geometry has been designed to deflect the potentially explosive force of a battery failure down and away from the passenger compartment."

Do you remember the Pinto?

"To optimize the cycle life of the batteries in the Volt, GM has chosen to install a 16 kWh battery pack in the Volt but only use 55% of the theoretical capacity to power the car. By limiting the maximum state of charge to 85% and switching to internal combustion when the state of charge falls to 30%, GM believes it can get a 10-year life out of batteries that would die much more quickly with a wider cycling range"

How does Li-phosphate compare in price is you reduce the size? It sounds like you have to use an explosive device at lower capacity to avoid using a better device that lasts longer and is safe. It looks like if Li-phosphate batteries can reduce price by a third, they would be a reasonable choice for a lighter Volt that doesn't explode "away from the passenger" but maybe killing the people in the car it hits or a pedestrian standing next to the collision hit by metal fragments..... in a collision. I think I'll pass on the exploding cars....

Battery Technology: A Different Set of Rules

>>"Automotive is a prime example. Everything I've read talks about how you need a 50 kWh battery for an EV. Using Li-ion that's a $75,000 battery for a $100,000 sports car (after tax credits). The percentage of the U.S. population that can afford a $100,000 car is miniscule. The percentage that will pay that much for a glorified toy is even smaller." <<

Agree but.... I believe I read the Tesla, manufactured very close to my home, uses 3,000 Li cells. Of course that is going to be expensive. Have you checked out the Bramo motorcycle? It uses about 6 Valence batteries that look to be the same size as lead acid cells. Segway and several commercial vehicles are starting to use the batteries too.

Obviously the battery in low volume in the infant stage is expensive just as the 8080 microprocessor was expensive on a per bit basis when Intel released its first uP. Have you looked into what Valence is doing to try and reduce costs for their batteries? They must have something right as Tanfield (sp) is going to use the batteries in commercial vans that I hear Ford will sell with the Ford label.

Battery Technology: A Different Set of Rules

"While reader comments have made it clear that folks don’t like it when I challenge their assumptions and they like it even less when I criticize a favorite stock, the numerous comments pro and con have helped refine my thinking and clarify the core message."

Congratulations on your success as the comments above range from positive to nasty.

Have you used any of the new tools that have Lithium batteries? I have a new Skill "2336 ixo Lithium Ion Cordless screwdriver." I like the small size, light weight and ability to hold a charge far better than NiCad. I really don't care that it cost $40 compared to maybe $20 for a cheap tool.

Have you considered that many thought the cost of seat belts, air bags and smog equipment were all good reasons to not put them in cars? Now they are expected and nobody seems to complain about the higher cost.

Many here in California don't care as much about the lowest cost but they do care about performance and "green" solutions. There is a waiting list to pay over $100,000 for an electric sports car that runs on thousands of Lithium batteries. Others have paid an extra $10,000 to get a hybrid sticker so they can drive in the car pool lanes. Saving gas was not as expensive as saving time.

Many are patriots and will do anything they can to help sending money to the Middle East.

Have you read my article here called "Valence Technology: Green Stock with Potential to Bloom?"
seekingalpha.com/artic...

I made a great deal of money selling some shares into strength and the shares I have left are up over 50% since I penned that Feb 2008 article.