Nissan working on cheaper battery, will sell to suppliers

As Nissan gears up to launch the Leaf electric-car in the U.S. next year, the Japanese automaker is developing a next-generation battery that will be lighter and less expensive. Speaking to the press at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan on the eve of the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, CEO Carlos Ghosn said Nissan could eventually outsource batteries for its electric-vehicle program to suppliers. He said that Nissan is first looking to control battery development internally to control cost and

Green Update–gt;News from Tesla, Chrysler, Subaru, and Green Tech

“Sources” close to Panasonic have been telling the world that it has better and much cheaper batteries on tap for Tesla’s Model S sedan , to go into production in late 2011, but it may not be able to supply them before 2013-14! Nor is it clear what firm will supply the initial batteries for the car. The story, briefly reported on Autobloggreen , confused the hell out of me, so I looked at another source on GreenBeat , which explained things as follows. Last December, Panasonic bought out

3 Steps to Success for Ultracapacitor Startups

Ultracapacitors, energy storage devices that can deliver quick bursts of intense power and withstand more charge and discharge cycles than batteries, could provide a twofer — disrupt the vehicle market and revolutionize the power grid . That’s the basic pitch from developers of next-gen ultracapacitors (most audibly from stealthy and controversial startup EEStor). But, like most new ventures in the green car and clean power markets: easier said than done. Ultracapacitor technology

Volt Birth Watch 167: The Midwife Bails

Bob Kruse, GM’s executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries and the man in charge of the Volt’s battery development and integration, is leaving General Motors. The Detroit News reports Kruse is leaving to start an EV consulting firm, creatively named E V Consulting. “My departure from General Motors has [...]

The Daily Five: Tuesday, 29 September, 2009

Ice Arena Lowers Energy Consumption 28%; Tesla Model S Can Swap Batteries; 220mph trains in America; Debating Hybrids’ Fast-Lane Privileges; LED Water Consumption Meter Ice Arena Lowers Energy Consumption 28% With LEDs By switching to high bay LED lighting, the Bowden Ice Arena in Alberta was able to decrease the amount of energy used on lighting by 28 percent, while increasing the amount of light put into play. Tesla Model S Can Swap Batteries Tesla Motors designed its all-electric 20

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