eNewsletter

October 2009

PowerGenix Taps into Green Consumer Market with Eco-Friendly Batteries
PowerGenix, a developer and manufacturer of nontoxic, high performance Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) rechargeable batteries, has released AA NiZn batteries. The batteries are the first to bare the PowerGenix brand name, and provide advanced performance and environmental credentials to satisfy green gadget users and eco-moms alike.

The limited performance capabilities of rechargeable AA batteries has historically hampered their market acceptance, as portable consumer electronic devices, such as cameras and flashlights, are designed for optimal use with more powerful disposable batteries. PowerGenix’s Nickel-Zinc AA’s are the first rechargeable to deliver power equivalent to primary, single-use batteries, a 30 percent increase compared to conventional AA rechargeable battery technologies.

In addition to offering advanced rechargeable battery performance, PowerGenix’s NiZn batteries are also safe, non-combustible and nontoxic. Certified by independent third party testing to meet Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards, PowerGenix’s batteries contain no heavy metals such as lead, cadmium or mercury.

Single- and Dual-Cell Li-Ion and LiFePO4 Chargers with OVP Enable Safer, Longer-Lasting Portable Devices
Microchip Technology Inc., a provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, has announced two families of charge-management controllers featuring overvoltage protection (OVP), which prevents overheating and damage to the battery-charger circuit from input-voltage spikes.  The MCP73113, MCP73114 and MCP73213 Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion); and MCP73123, MCP73223 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chargers feature high-accuracy voltage regulation and an integrated pass transistor. The combination of features enables smaller, safer portable electronic device designs with longer run times for the consumer, medical and industrial markets.

Microchip’s new chargers address increased consumer focus on the safety and efficiency of battery-powered applications.  All of the new devices have a maximum input voltage of 18 V and come with one of two OVP set points: 5.8 V and 6.5 V for the single-cell MCP73114 and MCP73113/23 chargers; or 13 V for the dual-cell MCP73213 and MCP73123 chargers.  Additionally, the MCP73113, MCP73114 and MCP73213 devices provide a variety of charging-voltage options for Li-Ion batteries: 4.1 to 4.4 V for the single-cell and 8.2 to 8.8 V for the dual-cell devices. The MCP73123 and MCP73223 devices target LiFePO4 batteries, and offer charging-voltage options of 3.6 V and 7.2 V, respectively.

The MCP73113 and MCP73114 Li-Ion, and MCP73123 LiFePO4 single-cell chargers feature high-accuracy voltage regulation of 0.5 percent; the dual-cell MCP73213 Li-Ion and MCP73223 LiFePO4 devices 0.6 percent.  These highly accurate levels of regulation enable longer battery life per charge, ultimately allowing portable products to run for longer periods of time between charges.  Additionally, all of the chargers feature an integrated pass transistor, which eliminates the need for an external FET, and reduces overall design cost, size and complexity.

With their unique combination of features and chemistry, the new chargers are well suited for devices in the consumer, medical and industrial markets.

Microchip also announced two evaluation boards to support the new chargers.  The MCP73113 OVP Single-Cell Li-Ion Battery Charger Evaluation Board provides users with a platform to test the basic functionality of single-cell Li-Ion battery charging at 4.2 V, with 6.5 V overvoltage protection.  The MCP73213 Evaluation Board enables users to test the basic functionality of a dual-cell Li-Ion battery charging at 8.4 V, with 13 V overvoltage protection. 

Konarka Announces Solar Panels for Portable Charging Applications
Konarka Technologies, Inc. has unveiled a line of solar panels for use in a variety of portable charging applications that will be available worldwide in the fourth quarter of this year. Commercial products incorporating Konarka Power Plastic 20 series material, which include battery chargers for lighting, mobile phones and devices, carry bags and café umbrellas, will be available through the company’s qualified resellers and partners program.

The Konarka Power Plastic 20 series includes the Power Plastic 120 (1-watt), Power Plastic 320 (3-watt) and Power Plastic 620 (7-watt) products. The panels vary in size and are available with and without integrated connectors, ready to be used or integrated into a manufacturer’s device or product.

These solar panels are being made available for delivery in the fourth quarter of this year. Next year, the company will increase its portfolio with additional products for both higher and lower voltage applications.

New Safety Requirements for Large Battery Cells and Packs to Help Address Industry’s Concerns Regarding Public Safety
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has announced its intent to release a new set of requirements for large batteries in electric vehicles, UL Subject 2580. With interest in electric vehicles on the rise, these new requirements will help mitigate the potential risk of fire and electrical hazards and enhance the overall safety of batteries for electric vehicles. Before becoming a standard, these requirements will undergo a comprehensive review process by a global Standard Technical Panel (STP). An STP is a consensus body of individuals representing consumers, government agencies, regulatory authorities, manufacturers and other knowledgeable interested parties that develop and maintain effective product safety standards.

The use of electric vehicles is expected to increase significantly in coming years, mainly due to the cost of traditional fuels and rising environmental concerns. Billions of dollars are being invested globally to develop and promote this technology, including almost three billion dollars from the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. According to the international consulting firm Oliver Wyman, the estimated number of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and battery-electric vehicles (BEV) that will be on the road globally over the next decade range from 1 to 5 million new vehicles per year. Along with this rapid growth comes the potential for fire, electric shock and other safety hazards.

“There are a number of factors in the industry that will dictate the rate of proliferation of electric vehicles on the market, which include cost, performance, durability and safety requirements for large batteries,” said Jeff Smidt, global manager of Underwriters Laboratories Global Energy Business. “At UL, safety remains our number one concern. With the help of our new and existing safety requirements, we are helping manufacturers get safer vehicles to the market.”

While UL Subject 2580 will not be mandated, manufacturers will have the option of certifying to its requirements to help reduce risks. Currently, there is no UL standard for the testing of large batteries like these in electric vehicles.

In addition to developing new standards for large batteries, UL has been conducting tests and certifying to existing standards for numerous hybrid and battery-electric vehicle components. Some of these components include motors, connectors and battery chargers. UL tests these components for overload protection, shock and flammability among other hazards. Ultimately, UL’s requirements for electric vehicle safety help move the industry toward performance and safety standardization.

ENER1 and Volvo Cars Team-Up to Provide Lithium-Ion Power for the New C30 Battery Electric Vehicle
ENER1, Inc., developer and manufacturer of advanced lithium-ion batteries, is teaming-up with Volvo Car Corp. to provide American-made lithium-ion batteries for the Volvo C30 Battery Electric Vehicle prototype, being unveiled in Gothenburg, Sweden. The battery is designed and developed in the US by EnerDel, Inc., Ener1’s US battery subsidiary. This follows the recently announced collaboration with Volvo on the plug-in hybrid V70 demonstration vehicles being road tested in Europe this fall, which also feature EnerDel lithium-ion batteries.

The C30 Battery Electric Vehicle is part of Volvo Car Corp.’s DRIVe Towards Zero Strategy and is a mobile test bed proving that through intelligent packaging and technology, a pure electric vehicle can be great to drive while not compromising on factors such as luggage space and interior comfort. It is designed as a zero emission, city commuter car covering the day-to-day mobility needs of more than 90 percent of European commuters. The 95 mile range and packaging efficiency of the vehicle is derived in a large part from the highly efficient lithium-ion battery. The EnerDel battery for the C30 battery electric vehicle (BEV) is custom made and is a ‘split battery’, with an energy content of more than 24 kWh nominal energy, of which 22.7 kWh is used to power the car.

Electric Transmission Texas Signs Contract for Largest Utility-Scale Battery in the US
Electric Transmission Texas LLC (ETT) has completed a contract with NGK-Locke, Inc. for a state-of-the-art, sodium-sulfur 4-megawatt NAS battery system, which will be installed in Presidio, Texas. ETT is a joint venture between American Electric Power  and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.

The NAS battery will be the first in Texas and the largest in the US and represents part of a $67 million overall commitment by ETT to improve transmission reliability in Presidio and surrounding areas.

The battery, along with construction of the Gonzales substation, is currently scheduled to be completed by first quarter 2010 in time for summer peak usage. Cost of the battery and substation is estimated at approximately $23 million. A 60-mile, 69- kilovolt transmission line from Marfa to Presidio is targeted for completion by 2012 with an estimated cost of approximately $44 million.

“Very soon, one of the oldest cities in the United States will be benefiting from one of the world’s newest technology developments,” said Calvin Crowder, ETT president. “This battery installation will enhance electrical service for our customers in this region, and completion of this contract will allow the Presidio area to realize its benefits by next summer.”

Blue Spark and Novalia Partner to Design and Develop Creative, High Value, Interactive Printed Electronics Products
Blue Spark Technologies, a supplier of thin, flexible printed battery solutions, and Novalia, a designer of printed electronics products, recently signed a joint marketing agreement to drive the creation and launch of innovative “Interactive Printed Media” products for the publishing, consumer, packaging, retail and other markets.

Novalia’s Interactive Printed Media (IPM) vision is based on existing printed electronics technologies. Technologies include programmable chips (ICs) and conductive inks, used along with traditional graphic inks, and thin, flexible “green” batteries as a primary power source. Printed electronics, by design, can easily and affordably be integrated into standard manufacturing processes and printed using traditional print processes, such as screen, offset, gravure and flexography.

Novalia has developed a compact, self-contained printed electronics control module consisting of a power source, integrated circuit for I/O control and interaction flow, and a sound transducer. The integration of the module and conductive inks enables the printed item to communicate and interact with the end user (consumer) through the senses of touch, sight and sound. The specific nature of that interaction will depend on the programming of the chip.

NextGen Research Predicts a “Power Shortage” in Batteries/Fuel Cells
As portable devices have become smaller in size and richer in features, their power needs have grown, but battery designers and manufacturers have not been able to keep pace by squeezing more energy into less space. Existing battery chemistries are approaching the limits of their energy densities, creating the potential for a “power shortage” as increasingly smaller gadgets make growing demands on batteries that cannot provide sufficient sustained power to take advantage of the latest power-hungry features.

A new study by NextGen Research, “Batteries and Fuel Cells: Portable Power for Portable Devices,” forecasts that the market for such portable power products will mirror the global economy: contracting in 2009 and seeing negligible growth in 2010, with more robust growth beginning in 2012. Overall, NextGen Research projects the global market for batteries and fuel cells for portable products will grow from $46 billion in 2009 to almost $64 billion in 2013.

“This is a staid, conservative market, where developments are evolutionary, not revolutionary,” explains Larry Fisher, research director of NextGen Research. “This does not bode well, because portable devices increasingly require more power, and battery designers and manufacturers do not have a near-term solution to ameliorate the problem. The latest generation of smartphones serves as a prefect illustration, with consumers complaining loudly about the shrinking battery life of these devices.”

The NextGen Research market study foresees incremental improvements in both the primary (disposable) and secondary (rechargeable) segments of the market, such as faster recharge times for lithium-ion batteries, and tweaks in chemistries that provide performance enhancements in both primary and secondary batteries. However, NextGen Research does not anticipate any major technological developments in the near term; lithium-ion will continue to be the principal chemistry in secondary batteries, while alkaline and carbon zinc will continue to dominate the primary battery market. Much-heralded micro-fuel cells will not gain traction in the market until late in the forecast period.

Fisher noted batteries also will be growing more eco-friendly in the coming years. “Environmental concerns are driving manufacturers to reduce or eliminate the use of cadmium, mercury, and other dangerous substances in their batteries. At the same time, the drive to recycle spent batteries is just beginning to take hold.”

Battery Power 2009: Highlighting Growth and New Developments
Battery Power 2009, October 20-21 in Denver, is expected to hit record attendance in its eight-year history. In this economy, that is a tremendous testament to the quality of speakers, exhibitors and training sessions.

The Battery and Power industries have seen an influx in government funding and a surge in new developments. Battery Power 2009 will feature presentations that highlight new growth areas and exciting new developments that will be of interest to the battery component provider and manufacturer to the OEM and system integrator. The event will have up to three tracks running simultaneously so the event can be customized to fit your particular interests.

Battery 2009 will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center. When you book your stay at the Hyatt Regency, you can get an additional $200 off your full conference registration. In order to receive this hotel discount, you must enter this Code upon check out: "Battery2009_Hotel" and you must supply us with your hotel confirmation number; please email to: marshag@infowebcom.com.)

Click Here to Register and Join Hundreds of Battery and Power Professionals

More than 30 presentations will be given, including:

Venture Capital Investor Panel
Moderated by Skip Maner, Managing Principal • Inverness Graham Investments
Abe Yokell, Principal • RockPort Capital Partners
Mark Iwanowski, Venture Partner • Trident Capital

Next Generation Li-Ion Technology: Untethered and Environmentally Sustainable
Eric Carlson, Director of Technical Sales • Boston-Power

Battery Projects and Developments in Government Laboratories
Ahmad Pesaran, Principal Engineer • National Renewable Energy Laboratory
George Andrews, Program Manager • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Kevin Gering, R&D Scientist • Idaho National Laboratory

Analysis of Battery Metals Supply
David E. Guberman, Mineral Commodity Specialist • US Geological Survey

Click Here to View the Complete Battery Power 2009 Program

October

20-21 - Battery Power 2009, Denver, Colo.

20-21 - Thermal Management & Technology Symposium (co-located with Battery Power 2009), Denver, Colo.

29-30 - Remote Conference & Expo, San Antonio, Texas

Join than 18,000 attendees from 75 countries in Las Vegas, NV, December 8-10, 2009, for POWER-GEN International, the world’s largest power generation event.

Offering an in-depth curriculum of 14 Competitive Power College pre-conference courses covering a range of topics from beginner to advanced, Mega-Sessions, technical tours to Las Vegas-area power plants, roundtable Networking Breakfasts plus other great networking opportunities.

Featuring the world’s largest industry exhibit floor with more than 1,200 exhibiting companies from around the world, POWER-GEN International is the platform for new product launches and unveilings—a showcase for products and services such as boilers, turbines, engines, boiler water and feedwater treatment services, computer hardware and software, controls and instrumentation systems, engineering and construction services, generators, plant electrical systems, pumps, valves and valve actuators, and more.

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