OAK RIDGE, TN—Recycled tires could see new life in lithium-ion batteries that provide power to plug-in electric vehicles and store energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels, say researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
SANTA CRUZ, CA—NTS Works has created a small and powerful battery for electric vehicles that can be rebuilt and upgraded for half the cost of a new replacement battery.
BEIJING—Johnson Controls has secured a new long-term battery supply contract from the Chinese automaker SAIC Motor. Johnson Controls will supply its Absorbent Glass Mat batteries to power SAIC Motor’s Start-Stop vehicles.
MILWAUKEE—Johnson Controls and German research institute Fraunhofer Gesellschaft are working together to develop next-generation cooling systems for vehicle batteries.
CUPERTINO, CA—Apple is working to manufacture iPhone batteries on fully automated assembly lines this year, supply chain sources claim. The company is interested in reducing the manpower needed to make its products, due to rising wages in China.
FREMONT, CA—Panasonic, along with some Japanese materials suppliers, is reportedly planning to invest some $977 million in a U.S. factory to make lithium-ion car batteries.
HOLLAND, MI—LG Chem Michigan shipped out the first set of electric vehicle batteries from its assembly plant here. The batteries will be installed in Chevy Volts.
Weight issues are not something that’s common with U.S. Army soldiers. The military organization prides itself on running a lean, mean fighting machine. But, even so, the Army is on a weight-loss program when it comes to vehicles, artillery, ordnance, helmets, electronic gear and other devices.
STOCKHOLM—Volvo has developed a new concept for lightweight structural energy storage components, in a bid to enhance the use of energy for future electrified vehicles. The new component includes carbon fibers, nano structured batteries and super capacitors.
STANFORD, CA—Stanford University researchers have developed a new adhesive that enables the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries last five times longer than earlier designs.
