Put one of these babies on an electric bike

A123 introduces new battery

Posted by biodiversivist (Guest Contributor) at 11:43 AM on 17 May 2007

A123 Systems today introduced its 32-series Nanophosphate^TM Lithium Ion cells, specifically designed for Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) use.

The 32-series cells are designed with abuse-tolerance in mind. A123 Systems Automotive Class cells take advantage of lessons learned from the mass-production of ANR26650M1 cells, used in DeWalt's and Black & Decker's power tool lines, in order to deliver 10+ year and 150,000 mile projected life requirements in engineered automotive battery packs. The cells have shown minimal power degradation and impedance growth after 300,000 cycles. The battery is able to operate at a temperature range of -20 F to 140 F (-29 C to 60 C).

Personally, if I owned a plug-in hybrid that could go thirty miles on a charge, I would fill my tank about twice a year.

Plug-in hybrids could be truly revolutionary technology. I would not be surprised to see people limiting trips and changing driving habits just so they can brag about how rarely they use gas, just as hybrid drivers today are changing their driving habits. Maybe they'll even move closer to where they work, or into urban environs, to take advantage of the plug-in feature. This could create a multiplier effect. What we need now are a few breakthroughs in solar costs to clean up our power grid.

For story: Put one of these babies on an electric bike
7 Comments | Post a Comment

Disappointing lack of details

As a fan of electrics and plug-ins, I was glad to read their PR about the new cells. This company has ben working hand and glove with GM's Chevy VOLT and Saturn plug-in development teams. GM's bogey for lifespan of 10 years is obviously
accomplished by the new battery , as is the weight limit. Price I'm not sure about, and was sorry they didn't mention anything except to say it was priced below every other battery. The snippet published here contains less than half the original text. This battery MAY, repeat MAY
meets the GM specs for their VOLT. If so, then
we can say POSITIVELY (rather than 90% chance given by Lutz) that the VOLT will get built.

by theBike45 at 7:25 PM on 17 May 2007

Agreed, the price has to come down

The M1 cells are already the cheapest lithiums on the market. I use forty of them to run my bike.

I'm not so sure about the Volt though. I love the idea of a serial hybrid but damn they are inefficient when driven by the recip motor. I looked into making a bike version of a serial plug-in by putting a small 25 pound portable generator running off propane in a bike trailer.

That exercise put things into perspective. There are reasons the Japanese engineers chose to use a parallel (primarily) system. Does it make sense to lug around a trailer with a generator, motor, and fuel in it just in case you need it when your battery goes dead? Imagine hooking your bike crank to a generator instead of to gears on the rear wheel. Four out of every ten revolutions will not propel you forward. This video demonstrates how inefficient a serial hybrid will be.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 7:34 AM on 18 May 2007

50 mpg Volt

Actually the Volt blurb claims 50 mpg on ICE backup generator. With the equivalent of 160 ICE hp at the wheels from it's electric drivetrain.

How is that possible with a 70 hp backup generator? The batteries provide peak power, allowing the ICE backup to merely provide a little over average power.

And the Volt is vastly over powered for most drivers and most driving. Who actually ever uses 160 hp in a car? Teenage boys. Or aging teens, like the ones who make design decisions at GM apparently.

When was the last time you "burned rubber"? Think about it. Other than slamming on the brakes to avoid a collision I mean.

80 hp would be fine, around a 50 hp electric motor. With a 20 kw backup generator.

The first large car company that makes an economy (real family car) serial plugin hybrid like this with 40 mile plugin range (only about 6 kwh worth of battery storage, the volt has 16 kwh) will beat the world. Will it be Honda or Toyota?

They are both stuck with nearly obsolete paralell hybrid designs that save very little fuel and are very difficult and expensive to plugin.

Bet on GM? With their constant missteps it's hard to do that. But then again they did at least build the EV1. Before they crushed it. Without trying to make it into a serial plugin hybrid.

Your bike could use a backup generator the size of a string trimmer motor bio-d. It would be tiny. Your average power is probably under 1/2 hp? I don't think anyone makes a generator that small.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

by amazingdrx at 8:48 AM on 18 May 2007

Options

Luckily there is also a fuel cell option for the Volt. In three years time the number of hydrogen filling stations may expand rapidly and the whole plug-in and hybrid thing might go the way of the 8-track casette.

by jabailo at 9:02 AM on 18 May 2007
[ Parent ]

Great comment, DrX

Better than the OP.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 9:36 AM on 18 May 2007

Hmp (humanpower)

Last I checked, sustainable human work output is about a 10th of a horsepower (let's call it Hmp). Lance Armstrong and his ilk can do a 1/4 hp for much longer than you or I, but there aren't many like him.

So yes, bio-d probably does under 1/2 hp--well under.

The 5% Project

by JMG at 10:56 AM on 18 May 2007

Good points

The generator I was looking at maxed out at a thousand watts. My bike can draw 700 plus watts on hills and at high speeds on the level.
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/ModelDetail.asp?ModelN ...

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 10:03 AM on 19 May 2007

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