Initiating movement of a standard bicycle can sometimes be challenging, such as when peddling up steep hills. Initiating movement of an electric bicycle, on the other hand, has always been much easier. The rider either pedal-assists the motor or activates it with a throttle.
Lithium-ion batteries have been used in portable consumer electronics for decades, primarily because they offer excellent energy density, no memory effect and a slow loss of charge when not in use.
DETROIT—Sales of lithium ion batteries are expected to grow from $1.6 billion in 2012 to $22 billion by 2020, according to a report from Pike Research.
DETROIT—Wanxiang Group, a large Chinese auto parts maker, has won a high-stakes auction for the assets of A123 Systems, the bankrupt American battery maker.
LYONS, PA—East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc. is investing $100 million to build a new assembly plant here to make batteries for forklifts and automobiles.
OBERHAUSEN, Germany—Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology in have developed a new fluid for cooling the costly batteries in electric vehicles.