Electricnick, The EV Revolution

Battery makers have come a long way.  Who is out there making a difference?  Photo courtesy of Voltronix.

The gist is that the clear winners are battery manufacturers.  Here are some to keep an eye on.

A123Systems. A123 Systems has been a lot on the news with their much hailed Prius plug-in hybrid, PHEV conversions.  What is important about the company?  It is working on nanoscale materials it has licensed from MIT.  What puts it in a favorable position?  It is working on energy storage systems for electric utilities.

ActaCell. Not as much on the radar, ActaCell is backed by Google and DFJ Mercury for its 2010 commercial launch.  What is important about this company?  Its devices should have a longer cycle life at lower costs than the competition.  They are part of the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture.

Boston-Power. Much in the press, Boston-Power makes laptop battery and has a new battery for plug-in vehicles in May 2009.  It wants to open a new lithium-ion battery factory in Auburn, Mass..

CFX Battery. A skewer of top notch engineers, Rachid Yazami, research director of France’s National Center for Scientific Research, Caltech professor Robert H. Grubbs and French chemist Andrew Hamwi, CFX Battery is working with technology developed at Caltech to produce prismatic (flat), cylindrical, thin-film and coin lithium-ion cells.  Why is this important?  In cars, where space is at a premium and small batteries can be tucked away.

Electrovaya: The Canadian Electrovaya makes battery systems with nanostructured lithium-ion polymer technology, cells, modules and interfaces for hybrid and electric vehicles.  The company is working with international companies.  Why is it important?  It is positioning itself well in the international market.

Enax. The company started as a battery consulting service and is now working on future lithium-ion cells for future hybrid and electric drives.  It collaborates with Continental.  Why is it important?  Its new batteries should be safer with a longer service life.

Envia Systems: This Californian company raised a $3.2 million last year.  Why is it important?  It wants to develop of “high performance, low cost energy storage solutions using lithium ion batteries” for plug-in vehicles.

Imara: The California company is working on small-format batteries but is aiming for vehicle batteries.  It has requested stimulus funds from the DOE to build a plant in Portland, Ore., to produce cells for plug-in hybrid vehicle batteries.  Why is it important?  It has already raised $20 million in venture capital.

Source: Reuters.