C'mon! Tax credits for all lithium hybrids

You're no plug-in, Ford hybrid

Today, Toyota is facing a battery shortage for its hybrid cars. By next year, however, Toyota might have enough batteries to produce 1 million hybrids per year.

Aside from Honda, no other automaker will produce even 100,000 hybrid vehicles per year until lithium is developed. Even then, many automakers might skip hybrids, instead preferring to put their lithium technology into limited production plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

Finish: C'mon! Tax credits for all lithium hybrids

Is lithium the key to Toyota's battery shortage

Running out of NiMH batteries

Toyota is running out of batteries. Consequently, in Japan, the wait for a new Toyota Prius can be as much as 8 months. According to Toyota, Panasonic EV just can't keep up with demand, although plans are in place to increase production to 1,000,000 units per year by next year.

Finish: Is lithium the key to Toyota's battery shortage

Lithium batteries a bad green investment?

One of the first Chevy Volt battery packs

Recently, hype about plug-in vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt, the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Roadster has increased interest in the key to this technology, lithium-ion batteries.

Analysts in the sector, however, believe that retail investors - those with less than two years of investment experience - are fueling a surge of investment into this space in a overreaction to real world growth potential.

"I think (Sanyo shares) are overbought," said Osamu Hirose, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center, according to Reuters.

Moreover, "According to Thomson Reuters, no brokerage has a "buy" rating on Sanyo, which has a price-to-earnings ratio of 67 times its estimated earnings."

On the other hand, Tim Seymour of FastMoney called out a number of Asian companies, those with interests in hybrid and electric vehicle batteries as an investment play off the Chevy Volt.

What do you think? Are the battery makers of plug-in hybrids a worthy green investment, or has this game already been-overplayed? Even more interesting, is it retail investors that over-estimating the potential of plug-in hybrids, or are the professional investors under-estimating the potential of plug-ins?

Chevy Volt investment plays

It's the battery, baby

Last night Bob Lutz was on Fast Money to discuss how the Chevy Volt might change the auto industry.

Unfortunately, the Volt wasn't enough to inspire the crew to buy GM stock just yet.

However, Tim Seymour called out Panasonic and its partnership with Sanyo as a way to play the "secret sauce" of the plug-in vehicle, the lithium-ion battery. Overall, Seymour claimed that the Asians dominate this space, and in addition to Panasonic, he also mentioned Samsung and LG.

Unfortunatley, Seymour didn't go into whether investors should invest in LG directly, for instance, or more directly in LG Chem, or even Compact Power, the LG Chem subsidiary directly involved in the Chevy Volt.

Time to get real about the plug-in revolution?

Great for media, but how about the real world?

If it were up to me, I'd cancel the cash for clunkers program and offer an unlimited tax credit, at least through 2015, for any and every vehicle that achieves at least 50 mpg combined. I might even add an additional credit for any vehicle that achieves 100 mpg combined.

Ultimately, I'd bet that would lead to a rush in development of hybrid cars and other plug-in vehicles if the credit were similar to the clunker's program.

Finish: Time to get real about the plug-in revolution?

Battery-powered car revolution: Far more hype than reality

Volts of hype

The battery is the future, at least the mid-term future, according to almost every major automaker. Eventually, after a couple of minor miracles, fuel cell vehicles might replace pure battery powered EVs. Still, even fuel cell vehicles will include hybrid-style batteries.

One way or another, the future of the auto industry is centered around battery technology.

Finish: Battery-powered car revolution: Far more hype than reality

Too many eggs in the lithium basket

A plug-in Prius

I was at HybridFest this weekend where I spent a good chunk of time with a hybrid battery repair person (more on that later). Anyway, I brought up the idea of replacing my NiMH battery with a lithium pack in several years, and Ron, the battery man, asked, why?

Before I could reply, he mentioned numerous reasons why lithium would offer very little over a NiMH battery in a conventional hybrid - an argument I've heard before.

Finish: Too many eggs in the lithium basket

Daimler: Clean diesel cannot replace hybrids and EVs

A Mercedes hybrid vehicle

While the future of the electrification of the automobile is still murky, Daimler is now fully committed to being a leader. Despite cutbacks in every department, R & D spending on lithium technology has been increasing and will not be cut.

From hybridization to full electric cars, Daimler is now certain clean, high performance diesel will not be enough to carry the company into the future. The battery is now critical to Daimler, and its marquee Mercedes brand.

Finish: Daimler: Clean diesel cannot replace hybrids and EVs

Are polymers the key to lithium investments?

A lithium ion polymer battery used by NASA

If the future of the automobile, for instance, is electrification, then batteries are the key to the auto industry, and everyone in the auto industry is now running towards lithium. Nonetheless, the exact chemistry's that make lithium viable for autos are in question.

Today, Technology Review has a pretty interesting piece on Seeo, Inc. and their latest use of "thin films of polymer as the electrolyte and high-energy-density, light-weight electrodes" which result in "safer, longer-lasting, lighter, and cheaper" batteries.

While some critics maintain that polymer electrolytes are not feasible for quick charge hybrids because of low ionic conductivity, the fact that Hyundai seems prepared to bet its hybrid future on related technology is quite interesting.

Even if lithium polymer isn't the key to the automobile, lithium polymers will be an important part of the future battery industry, and it could be another way to enjoy green investing.

Can batteries store solar and wind power?

Same technology as car batteries?

Read an interesting story this morning on wind turbines and using batteries to store excess power, as well as some other technologies. One company, A123Systems, is considering making batteries for wind turbines directly for this purpose.

Currently, A123Systems makes lithium batteries for plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric cars, and I cannot help but wonder if A123, and others, are contemplating lithium for this purpose.

If so, could it help cause a shortage of lithium quicker than expected?

No lithium shortages for 10 - 15 years

No shortages for at least 10 years?

Read a pretty interesting lithium article this weekend regarding how Bolivia plans to develop its lithium mining industry - something essential to the development of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

Finish: No lithium shortages for 10 - 15 years

$1 billion to kick start US auto battery industry?

Is it already too late for a US battery industry?

3M and Johnson Controls have joined a consortium of 14 US technology companies, called the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture, which is seeking $1 billion in aid from the US government to help develop advanced batteries for hybrid and electric cars.

Finish: $1 billion to kick start the US battery industry?

Batteries: The next big green investment?

Who can make the best lithium anode

Interesting article in Technology Review regarding new techniques for developing lithium-ion batteries - breakthroughs that could instantly double the range of battery-powered vehicles. A number of researchers have been working on developing cost-effective ways of creating nanoporous silicon electrodes, with positive results, although many still believe that mass-production of such materials would be too cost-prohibitive for use in autos.

Still, while nanoporous silicon might not be the next big thing in batteries, most researchers believe that there is still a lot of potential to tap into when it comes to lithium batteries. Unlike the NiMH batteries powering today's hybrid cars, the upside potential of lithium batteries is still huge.

Interestingly, another piece of research cited in the report was the "impressive" work that GM demonstrated in September using silicon-coated carbon fibers in their lithium anodes.

When you add in the potential of batteries, the feasibility of the electrification of the automobile seems much more clear. Coupled with Better Place, however, one starts to wonder if battery makers and smart grid providers might make automakers far less relevant.

Lithium shortages to stymie plug-ins?

Shortages, costs and environmental concerns

Even before the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid vehicles hit the road, questions continue to mount regarding the viability of lithium to power these new vehicles. Some have questioned lithium supplies. Some have questioned long term costs.

Finish: Lithium questions continue for plug-ins

Tax credits for plug-in conversions - Another congressional failure?

More proof Congress is inept?

When Congress came up with tax credits for plug-ins, they seemed very focused on making sure that the Chevy Volt, and GM, was rewarded. Fine. GM is an American company. But, A123Systems is also an American company and, possibly, a very important American company in terms of the future.

Finish: Tax credits for plug-in conversions - Another Congressional failure?

Dude, that hybrid got an ultracapacitor?

Ultracapacitor-lithium powered hybrids coming soon?

Maxwell Technologies, Inc. and Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd., China's leading producer of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, today announced a partnership to develop "hybrid" energy storage products combining ultracapacitor and li-ion battery technologies.

"We believe that the products we envision will give end-users the best of both worlds in terms of the long cycle life, rapid charge/discharge characteristics and low temperature performance of ultracapacitors and the large energy storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries," said David Schramm, Maxwell's president and chief executive officer.

Just another example of the adaptability of hybrid vehicles.

Where are the lithium powered cars?

Lithium: Good enough for Mars but not the streets of America?

According to NASA and JPL, lithium-ion batteries have proven to be extremely reliable and effective, and these batteries have helped the Mars Rover far exceed the expectations of many Rover engineers.

Entrepreneurs and backyard mechanics have converted conventional vehicles in to electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles into plug-in hybrid vehicles without the massive R&D budgets of the major automakers. Yet, all of the major automakers are years away from mass-producing lithium powered automobiles.

Finish: Where are the lithium powered cars?

Toyota's lithium contradictions and the third generation Prius

Will it be lithium powered?

Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota's top guy, has been very bullish regarding lithium batteries and their ability to power Toyota's hybrid cars. He was even quoted by BusinessWeek a few months ago confirming that lithium batteries were ready for Toyota's hybrids.

Shortly thereafter, however, rumors emerged from Japan claiming that lithium would be delayed, and multiple Toyota executives have seemed to confirm these rumors. Earlier this week Kazuo Okamoto, Toyota's research and development chief, for example, claimed that Toyota's Third Generation Hybrid Synergy drive had not been delayed, however, Okamoto also made it seem as if the next gen Prius would not utilize lithium.

Likewise, regarding lithium batteries, ...Finish: Toyota's lithium contradictions and the third generation Prius

Volvo hybrid: If only lithium were ready for primetime

Lithium powered hybrids rock, but they are not yet ready for primetime

Wow! Seriously, could the Frankfort Auto Show become any more focused on green issues, at least in terms of concepts? It's hybrid cars galore - in addition to clean diesel and biofueles. Unfortunately, so many of the concepts, such as the Volvo Recharge Hybrid, are dependent upon technologies that are just not ready for reality.

Imagine 62 mpg on electric power only. That's what the Recharge hybrid promises. --> Finish: Volvo hybrid: If only lithium were ready for primetime

Does lithium make mild hybrids worthy?

Lithium powered full hybrid concept, Toyota's FT-HS

Everyone knows the future of hybrid cars and electric cars seems absolutely dependent upon cost-effective, reliable and safe lithium-ion batteries. Without such batteries, forget the Chevy Volt, forget a 100 mpg Prius, forget plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Obviously, however, if li-on batteries are successful, the entire automotive world will be turned upside down and change forever. Finish: does lithium make mild hybrids worthy?