Posted on 06/08/2021 6:20:38 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
Increased range, reduced production costs.
As the race to embrace electric vehicles heats up, manufacturers are looking for ways to gain an advantage over competitors. From Gogoro’s swappable battery network to Kawasaki patenting electric-hybrid tech, brands continue innovating in an attempt to shape future electric vehicle development. Now, apparently BMW and Ford have teamed up to champion solid-state battery technology.
The two automotive juggernauts are enlisting the help of Colorado-based solid-state battery startup Solid Power to integrate the technology into their lineups by 2030. The $130 million investment will produce 100 Ah solid-state batteries for testing in 2025 before the 2030 rollout. Both Ford and BMW believe that the technology will reduce the cost of manufacturing electric cars, motorcycles, and scooters while also increasing range. external_image
Using sulfide-based cells, Solid Power’s batteries offer 50 percent more energy density than lithium-ion units currently in use. The company also ensures that its solid electrolyte is non-flammable. Once solid-state battery production reaches full-scale production, the two marques could reduce production costs by 40 percent, compared to lithium-ion production.
Under the agreement, Solid Power will start developing its solid-state batteries for automotive applications in 2022. Future electric models will benefit from the new cells but current models like Ford’s Mustang Mach-E electric crossover upcoming F-150 Lightning will still feature lithium-ion batteries. BMW’s i4 sedan and iX crossover are in the same boat, but solid-state power sources could impact BMW’s two-wheeled electrics most. external_image
In order to achieve today’s elevated performance standards, current electric technologies force motorcycle manufacturers to adopt larger lithium-ion batteries. The oversized units also result in heavier curb weights, decreasing range and nearly offsetting the performance advantage in the process. A prime example is Energica’s Ego platform, which boasts 145 horsepower but also weighs over 600 pounds.
With an electric motorcycle and electric scooter concepts in development, BMW has ample opportunity to test Solid Power’s new units. If solid-state batteries do indeed increase range and reduce production costs, it could be a win/win for consumers and producers. Hopefully, we see the technology applied soon, as the electric race only continues to heat up.
I am not an expert in battery technology. This article popped up on my google news feed last night.
$130 Million is a fair amount of money for these two auto producers to invest in solid state batteries.
Toyota and Volkswagen have also made major investments in this battery technology.
I have absolutely no relation to this “news sight”.
“Gogoro’s swappable battery network”
A great solution to the recharge problem yet but probably not viable because of the weight and variety of battery packs.
Ok, you guys here know far more about this than I do, but I am still sooooo skeptical of electric cars as the “future” of autos.
NO major breakthrough/major “next gen” has ever come from the existing companies in the field. I have given examples such as overland non-RR travel (stagecoaches were nowhere close to making autos); air travel (balloon makers not involved in the Wrights work); calculating machines like NCR and IBM were not involved in the first microprocessor development; Sony with the dominant portable music device, the Walkman, was nowhere near the iPod; and so on. Keuffel, the slide rule company had nothing to do with electronic calculations.
Based on this, a truly “new” ground transport would likely seem to NOT be coming from any auto company.
That magic word again:"IF"
The biggest problem for the future of ev’s and a lot of other things is the infrastructure necessary to generate all the electrical power necessary (over 60% of data mining operations are located in China due to abundant supply and cheap rates). The USA is not building power plants (coal or natural gas) to any extent, and the nuclear option doesn’t even seem to be considered. Meanwhile, China is building electric generating facilities at an unbelievable rate. Americans need to wake up to what’s really going on with regard to this and a lot of other issues that will limit our country’s ability to prosper in the future. Our central government is failing us in virtually every area.
BMW, Volkswagon, Toyota & Ford are not inventing the technology. They are INVESTING in the companies that are trying to make solid state batteries a VIABLE mass produced energy storage option.
Ever since Tesla came to market we Freepers have been discussing the positives and negatives of electric automobiles(cars/trucks).
What we fail to remember is that there are about 4 billion +/- people who get around on bicycles, skooters and motorcycles where they can not afford an automobile. Maybe this is the market that gets taken over by rechargeable batteries. Not to mention lawn mowers, tractors, string trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and all other small engine equipment now run by 2 cycle engines.
Very good point.
This is how Sochiro Honda got started.
“Based on this, a truly “new” ground transport would likely seem to NOT be coming from any auto company.”
That is an interesting point. But technically electric cars PREDATE internal combustion cars. Way back in the 1800s there were electric cars. And people have messed with them on and off ever since. The limiting factor was always battery technology.
But the motor and drive train tech is not particularly new or innovative. Collages were racing solar powered cars back in the early 90s’. Start ups and inventors have been building electric cars for 150 years!
As for chance not coming from the auto companies... you might be right, but this time that is now where change came from. It came from startups like Tesla that built a crappy product that was largely vapor ware for years and years.... but it got people excited. The major car companies are now playing catch up. And they really are going all in. All the major manufacturers are working on the stuff now. I think the companies like Tesla got big enough to force their hand. So the big technology change did not come from them, it was forced on them.
Toyota is already ready to produce their version of solid state if one is to believe anything the greenies put out.
A good string trimmer like Ego makes can run you close to $400.00, therein lies the rub. Even a 40 volt Ryobi can run a couple hundred with spare batteries running up to $400.00 depending on Amp capacity. Ryobi's riding zero turn mower has 6 motors and runs over 4 thousand for a 42 inch model. Batteries are the major cost.
My Stihl battery operated hedge trimmer was $199. The battery and charger was another $100.
The battery fits all the other tools in the Stihl series. The only thing I have done to maintain it since purchase is lubricate the blades.
I have 8 small gasoline (4 cycle & 2 cycle) engines pieces of power equipment and a diesel 36HP tractor. I may never buy another 2 cycle piece of equipment again.
Toyota has been working with the Japanese electronic giant Panasonic on solid state batteries.
Panasonic IMHO makes some of the best electronic equipment in the world. These companies would not be involved if they did not think it was the future.
Me either, I have many battery operated power tools just now trying to consolidate on one battery brand. Not every tool I want is provided by one company unfortunately. I am in no rush to get into a battery powered car.
I just used my 80 volt chain saw. battery would not recharge as too warm in the 95 temp outside so had to take it inside by the ac vent to get it cool enough to recharge.
That is a pretty cool rig.
There is a local nursery where the owner zips around on a Segway with big mudder tires. Similar idea to the rig in your video.
As far as a battery outdoor tool system you might want to check out the system that Stihl offers. IMHO the hedge trimmer I bought two years ago is more than adequate for a home owner with a large yard and 20+ bushes to trim. For example, the first day I used it I charged it the night before. I trimmed for 2 1/2 hours. Stopped for lunch. I put the battery on the charger and it still showed 2 out of 4 bars. When I started up again an hour later it was fully charged and I used it for another 2 hours. When I was done, I sprayed the blades with a cleaner and hung it back on the wall of the garage. I put the battery and the charger back on a shelf in the basement. No worries about the carb plugging up because of ethanol fuel. No concern about keeping gasoline in the garage, etc. We are all familiar with the ethanol small engine problems.
Also, the Stihl hedge trimmer was made in Austria. The battery was made in Germany. They may be making these in SC now. I purchased the largest battery for this series of tools. As I mentioned earlier, the battery and charger were $100.
One of the things I realized after using a battery operated tool like this was that when you are not actually cutting with it, you release the trigger and it stops. Where as a gas engine you keep it running constantly even when you are walking from one spot in the yard to the next. This reduces the actual run time of the battery significantly. So, even though I was out in the yard for 2 1/2 hours trimming bushes, I was probably only cutting for a third of that time or less.
The military possibilities are many.
I am all in on battery operated tools at home, just want something I can go to local store and replace at a decent cost. I don't insist on Dewalt or Festa, I use over the counter stuff from big box store. Years ago I just decided to use Sears tools since they would always be there, oh well. I currently am using Ryobi because they are reasonably priced and more than adequate. They just had there $100.00 battery pack deal two 4 amp batteries and a charger plus a free tool, bought 3 of them. I have tools I will likely use once in my time remaining, like to pretend I will live forever I guess.
I have my eye on the new zero turn mower from Ryobi just for yard, finally put some goats on the biggest portion of land I have to mow. They are not natural grazers but they do a pretty good job. Chickens will turn a pasture into a mud hole if you let them.
I planted White Clover on a 2 acre field a couple years back.
It grows to about 4-5” in height and chokes out the weeds.
That way I only mow it once a month or so. Plus it looks pretty when it blossoms.
I need to buy a bush hog for my Massey Ferguson 36HP tractor. I just do not want to spend the money for a new one.
I have an old case 3000, with a 5 ft hog, needs me to install an alternator in place of the generator, guess I need to add it to the list of things I am not likely ever to get done.
By 2030? Biden will end gasoline use way before that if the commies have their way.
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