Originally Posted on TheEnergyCollective.com Before the massive electrical grids and power lines that our current infrastructure relies so heavily upon, batteries were the way we created electricity. As batteries advanced, so did our technological capabilities. From lead-acid to lithium ion, battery technologies dominate the majority our our everyday gadgets, appliances, and amenities. If you don’t believe… Keep reading →
States are battling to entice Tesla Motors to construct a $5 billion lithium-ion battery plant within their borders that could bring as many as 6,500 jobs. This Greentech Media article highlights recent news coming from each potential location – Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona – and suggests reasons why the factory should be built… Keep reading →
Electric car maker Tesla Motors seeks to release a mass market vehicle in the next 3 years, but first has to cut the cost of its batteries in half. It plans to do this by building economies of scale with a massive lithium-ion battery factory that could cost anywhere from $2 billion to $10 billion… Keep reading →
A startup named Aquion recently began commercial-scale production of sodium-ion batteries that solve some lithium-ion toxicity and flammability issues. The company says when scaled up, the batteries could supplant natural gas peaker plants, allowing stored renewable energy to be used during power demand spikes instead of gas. “The batteries could allow the grid to accommodate… Keep reading →
A Japan Airlines flight was grounded after smoke was discovered coming from the battery system. Roughly one year ago, Dreamliners worldwide were grounded due to overheating batteries that caught fire. “”We are making sure of the safety of every plane before its departure. We will continue regular flights (with Dreamliners),” company spokesman Norihisa Hanyu said.… Keep reading →
Quick Take: An excellent article in the Atlantic provides a valuable summary of solar’s existential threat to utilities. Team up rooftop solar with a Tesla battery unit and you can (theoretically) do away with your electric power utility. In reality of course, few homeowners will really want grid divorce. First, they will want to sell… Keep reading →
Records are meant to be broken, no doubt about that. This includes electric vehicle records, and word out of Japan is the world record for distance traveled by an electric vehicle on a single charge may now have been broken (though there’s a little confusion on this at first glance – see below), courtesy of a team… Keep reading →
