Enerdel Li-ion
Originally created on January 07 2008
[~jan~~7~]
Enerdel is yet another comapny announcing the introduction of automotive type Li-ion batteries in 2008.
EnerDel was formed in October 2004, when an alternative energy company Ener1, Inc., and the world’s largest automotive components company Delphi Corporation combined lithium battery operations. The Enerdel battery is a lithium titanate and hard carbon technology EnerDel’s proprietary technology is built on initial developments from Argonne National Laboratory, combined with industry know-how and expertise from the lithium ion industry in Japan as well as systems expertise from Delphi, development is focused primarily towards hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and electric vehicle (EV).
Two types of cells are produced, specifications and performance can be found by clicking on each cell type: Lithium Titanate Oxide and Hard Carbon
EnerDel is owned 80.5% by Ener1, Inc., and 19.5% by Delphi, both public companies. It is equally interesting to note that Delphi is involved in the development of fuel cells, notably for US Army vehicle applications and has recently been award a R&D contract with the Rochester Institute of Technology for further development.
Ener1 chairman says lithium-ion batteries coming to market in 2008
“Our batteries have already been tested by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium, which is General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. We are the only battery company today using this Lithium-ion technology, which has met or exceeded all of the Big Three’s requirements, especially and most importantly best-in-class in safety. We have already announced a commercial contract with Think Electric Vehicle in Norway. It’s the largest electric vehicle company in Europe. You will see our batteries in their cars by the end of 2008″ Gassenheimer added, referring to a $70 million development and supply agreement signed in October.
Mr. Gassenheimer said that the size of the market for Lithium-ion power sources for electrical transportation, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric vehicles will burgeon in the next decade. The new technology provides consumers an immediate positive return on investment in purchasing a hybrid electric vehicle, while the nickel metal hydride batteries currently in use require a payback period of seven to ten years to cover the hybrid premium.
“This is really a supply problem,” Mr. Gassenheimer commented to Fox, adding that the few U.S. companies currently involved in manufacturing Lithium-ion automotive batteries, rather than competing directly against each other, are collectively building a new industry. He says that Japanese automaker Toyota now accounts for 90 percent of the battery market for electrical transportation and that U.S. industry must rapidly catch up or risk ceding a major share of the new car market to foreign carmakers.
The Ener1 chairman notes that energy legislation now moving through Congress that would mandate a minimum 35-mpg standard in new cars has provided strong impetus to American carmakers to adopt more fuel-efficient technologies.
