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Battery manufacturer Ener1 just announced that they're foreseeing an 50% drop in the price of lithium ion batteries as production increases. Where exactly this price drop will be coming from, we're not sure.
A couple of statements indicate that a lot of it will come simply from scaling up manufacturing, and that it won't happen until their dealing in hundreds of thousands of units. But they're also indicating that demand isn't likely to do anything but increase exponentially. Of course, that's what they hope, and it's my personal opinion as well. But it's certainly not guaranteed.
Ener1 has also stated that they are expecting two new development deals this year. They already provide the lithium ion batteries for Think's City Car in Europe. But the CEO is promising that these deals will be with much larger car companies. And though GM and Toyota already have their Li-ion suppliers lined up (Toyota will probably be building it's own,) there are an awful lot of car companies that still aren't sure how they're going to break into the lithium ion powered future.
Lastly, according to their calculations, this 50% reduction in li-ion battery cost will translate to a significant reduction in the cost of hybrid vehicles. They're expecting, in fact, that the time it takes for hybrids to pay for themselves will drop from 7 to around 2 years.
It's pretty likely that every new car on the road will have a lithium ion battery pack in it in a mere ten years. So I expect that their vision for increased demand isn't unwarranted. Whether there are some unseen bumps in the road, however, is an entirely different matter. But if these prices do drop the way Ener1 says they will, then the world is going to be a cleaner and more electrified place pretty soon.
Via The Guardian
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written by Tom Saxton, September 01, 2008
There's a national community of thousands of pure EV drivers who have manged to kick the gasoline habit all together. Let's hope cheap lithium ion batteries brings EVs to a wider population.
After nearly 10 years of wanting to drive pure electric, my wife and I finally joined the group a month ago. It's amazing how quickly you can get out of the habit of going to the gas station. After three weeks of driving our 2002 RAV4-EV, I had to go refill our Honda Insight. It was genuinely strange to have to go through the gas-pumping ritual when it's so much easier to just plug in at home.
Don't be the last one left driving a terrorist-funding, environment-destroying, economy-crippling gas burner.
After nearly 10 years of wanting to drive pure electric, my wife and I finally joined the group a month ago. It's amazing how quickly you can get out of the habit of going to the gas station. After three weeks of driving our 2002 RAV4-EV, I had to go refill our Honda Insight. It was genuinely strange to have to go through the gas-pumping ritual when it's so much easier to just plug in at home.
Don't be the last one left driving a terrorist-funding, environment-destroying, economy-crippling gas burner.
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written by SFlyte120, September 01, 2008
"... until their dealing ..."
Should be they're. That's not the sort of sloppy mistake I expect to see from this fine blog!
Should be they're. That's not the sort of sloppy mistake I expect to see from this fine blog!
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written by MJK, September 02, 2008
I wonder if this projection includes pressures on supplies of lithium that are expected to crop up.
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written by Carl, September 02, 2008
The high volume market for these new batteries are the hybrids, maybe even existing hybrids. Not many Prius owners would pay the current $10K price for a plug-in battery, but probably a lot would spring for $5K. If you can run 80% on electric, that's almost as good as a pure EV.
With a supplemental gas engine, a smaller capacity (kWh) is practical, and a less powerful (kW/HP) battery and motor is required. As prices come down, the full EVs will be more widely available, but in the next decade, hybrids seem awfully attractive.
With a supplemental gas engine, a smaller capacity (kWh) is practical, and a less powerful (kW/HP) battery and motor is required. As prices come down, the full EVs will be more widely available, but in the next decade, hybrids seem awfully attractive.
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written by stas Peterson, September 03, 2008
Someone actuallty stopped top think and frealizes all thei bverouhaha over CO2 and enrgy limits and fossil fuels si al;l a bunch of chicken littlesism.
We will covert autos and GrounD Transport to electricty within a few short years.
The Future is not some dumb limited poverty stricken place. It's a a place where every human get a chance for a decent life...
We will covert autos and GrounD Transport to electricty within a few short years.
The Future is not some dumb limited poverty stricken place. It's a a place where every human get a chance for a decent life...
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written by Fernando B, September 25, 2008
To those of you who critize hybrids, I say this: I work 45 miles away from home (90 miles R/T).
1) No current electric car offers this kind of range....at an affordable price.
2) Public transportation is so horrible in South Florida that point to point, (Bus -> Train -> Bus), takes aboutj 2:47 hrs average time each way.
3) A "good" hybrid like Prius or Civic or a SMART or a new Jetta diesel are the best alternatives right now...Since the SMART is the only option in the low range and only offers 2 passenger seating, other options would be: Yaris, Corolla, Fit, Civic, Cobalt, Aveo, Focus. Can't wait for the Fiesta and Cruze to get here...
4)...Because moving closer to work would mean getting rid of my current $500/month payment for a new $2,000 mortgage payment. Which IS STUPID!!!!
5)...Because I cannot find a job in my profession nearby...
6) Because my company does not offer (or does not want to offer?) remote work.
1) No current electric car offers this kind of range....at an affordable price.
2) Public transportation is so horrible in South Florida that point to point, (Bus -> Train -> Bus), takes aboutj 2:47 hrs average time each way.
3) A "good" hybrid like Prius or Civic or a SMART or a new Jetta diesel are the best alternatives right now...Since the SMART is the only option in the low range and only offers 2 passenger seating, other options would be: Yaris, Corolla, Fit, Civic, Cobalt, Aveo, Focus. Can't wait for the Fiesta and Cruze to get here...
4)...Because moving closer to work would mean getting rid of my current $500/month payment for a new $2,000 mortgage payment. Which IS STUPID!!!!
5)...Because I cannot find a job in my profession nearby...
6) Because my company does not offer (or does not want to offer?) remote work.
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written by Uncle B, October 01, 2008
Some poor deluded souls still think they have a choice, gasoline of electric - they do not! The current $700 Billion dollar bailout fiasco is going to drive the cost of gasoline up, or the value of the dollar down, your choice, and gasoline will be more than $14.00 gallon if you can find a station with some!The OPEC boys are using Purchasing Power Parity to price gasoline in this country, and gasoline is their property, not an American entitlement! It is long past time to go solar, wind, wave, nuclear and tidal for power. It is long past time to have batteries charged and waiting for you at work and at home. It is long past time to give up metal clad land yachts for carbon fiber, advanced polymer composite, aerodynamic, turbo diesel electric hybrid plug in two passenger commuter vehicles that get over 80 mpg at reasonable road speeds. It is long past time to ban SUV's and other gas hogs. Mostly it is long past time to get over any entitlement illusions the adverts have subliminally plugged into your minds and any arrogant "American Superiority" notions you may have! Like the people who have lost their Mc Mansions lately, we must repent our slothful ways, be shamed and embarrassed by our nievity and child like innocence and go forth, chaste, wiser and more worldly than before, an do battle against the corrupt Bush style government that brought us this pain!
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written by Kevin Brennan, October 02, 2008
I believe I had already read about this when Ener1 announced their plan to start a plant in Indiana, where I'm from. Certainly this is great news for the locals, but I'm fairly certain that banking on a 50% price drop in lithium ion batteries is not a great idea. Only time will tell; optimism is great, but I doubt they'll be that quick to catch on.
Oh, and Uncle B, you might want to check some numbers before you go around attempting to ban vehicles you don't like. Taking all the cars in the US off the road would be a minor impact on both oil imports and the environment, so I don't see how your highly hypothetical 80 mpg will help. Not to mention that increases in good such as gasoline would be regressive in nature. While you're at it, you may want to look up some history. The subprime mortgage crisis which has throttled our investment banks is a direct byproduct of the subprime mortgages initiated in the Carter era and accelerated in the 90s. Congress refused to check on Fannie and Freddie, landing us where we are today. Leave the executive branch out of it.
Oh, and Uncle B, you might want to check some numbers before you go around attempting to ban vehicles you don't like. Taking all the cars in the US off the road would be a minor impact on both oil imports and the environment, so I don't see how your highly hypothetical 80 mpg will help. Not to mention that increases in good such as gasoline would be regressive in nature. While you're at it, you may want to look up some history. The subprime mortgage crisis which has throttled our investment banks is a direct byproduct of the subprime mortgages initiated in the Carter era and accelerated in the 90s. Congress refused to check on Fannie and Freddie, landing us where we are today. Leave the executive branch out of it.
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written by Ed, October 09, 2008
We don't need lithium batteries to power our electric cars. A company called FireFly Energy (Google 'em) is making a standard lead acid battery using a lead carbon foam instead of lead plates. The testing thus far has shown a 60% reduction in weight over regular lead acid batteries, and up to a 400% increase in capacity.
The US is a top recycler and producer of lead. This keeps the materials domestic so we're not simply trading one import (oil) for another (lithium).
I hope I can get my hands on some of these for my electric car.
http://www.ZeroGasoline.com
The US is a top recycler and producer of lead. This keeps the materials domestic so we're not simply trading one import (oil) for another (lithium).
I hope I can get my hands on some of these for my electric car.
http://www.ZeroGasoline.com
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written by han, January 07, 2009
Dear sir
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We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our company and products,with the hope that we may work with Export Ideas battery raw material in the future
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If these can help to you please do not hesitate to contact with us, we will give you the detailed material
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Yours, sincerely
Pooshchen han
Tianjin pooshchen trading
Tel: 86-022-88191927
Fax: 86-022-28340094
Address: Jinnan Tianjin China
We have obtained your information from the Internet that you are in the market for lithium ion battery products
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our company and products,with the hope that we may work with Export Ideas battery raw material in the future
We make the products to have many year histories. We have the best product quality, price and serive to you
Our product range includes: Lithium Carbonate,Lithium Hydroxide,Lithium cobaltate,Lithium manganate,Lithium chloride, Sodium bicarbonate,Ammonium bicarbonate,Sodium sulphide, Lanthanum Oxide, Cerium Oxide, Cobalt Oxide, Soda Ash, Sodium Sulfate, etc.
If these can help to you please do not hesitate to contact with us, we will give you the detailed material
We look forward to receiving your enquires soon!
Yours, sincerely
Pooshchen han
Tianjin pooshchen trading
Tel: 86-022-88191927
Fax: 86-022-28340094
Address: Jinnan Tianjin China
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written by BlogOnSmog, February 07, 2009
So there are other competitive energy storage systems for the automobile including compressed air, hydrogen and natural gas.
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written by Chengdu Jinke Investment Ltd., April 15, 2009
Dear Sirs
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We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our company and products,with the hope that we may work with Export Ideas battery raw material in the future.
We make the products to have many year histories. We have the best product quality, price and serive to you
Our product range includes: Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (CAS NO. 1610-66-3 56.5&#xmi;n. technical grade, 96&#xmi;n. battery grade) Lithium Carbonate (CAS NO. 554-13-2 99.0&#xmi;n. industrial grade, 99.5&#xmi;n. battery grade, 99.9&#xmi;n. battery grade)etc. products.
If these can help to you please do not hesitate to contact with us, we will give you the detailed material
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Elaine Ann
Chengdu JInke Invetment ltd.
tel:0086 28 87593708
fax:0086 28 87593508
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
website: www.jinke-invest.cn
We have obtained your information from the Internet that you are in the market for lithium ion battery products.
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our company and products,with the hope that we may work with Export Ideas battery raw material in the future.
We make the products to have many year histories. We have the best product quality, price and serive to you
Our product range includes: Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (CAS NO. 1610-66-3 56.5&#xmi;n. technical grade, 96&#xmi;n. battery grade) Lithium Carbonate (CAS NO. 554-13-2 99.0&#xmi;n. industrial grade, 99.5&#xmi;n. battery grade, 99.9&#xmi;n. battery grade)etc. products.
If these can help to you please do not hesitate to contact with us, we will give you the detailed material
We look forward to receiving your enquires soon!
Yours, sincerely
Elaine Ann
Chengdu JInke Invetment ltd.
tel:0086 28 87593708
fax:0086 28 87593508
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
website: www.jinke-invest.cn
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The production of these cars was:
20/year (five years ago)
190/years (2007)
300-350 (2008)
source: http://www.aftenposten.no/engl...626301.ece