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Just to clarify a point;
the reason NiMH batteries aren't used in larger auto applications than mild hybrids (Prius etc.) is that their use is limited by license issues.
Key NiMH patents are held by Energy Conversion Devices (ECD), a Detroit area company founded by Stanford R. Ovshinsky, a rather creative fellow who has made major advances in batteries, amorphous solar panels, advanced fuel cells etc.
For a time GM had a joint venture with ECD which allowed them to produce large NiMH batteries for their EV-1 electric car, but with its high costs/unit that project was eventually cancelled and the cars leases not renewed. After this GM let their joint venture expire.
After the GM project ECD started a spinoff joint venture with Chevron/Texaco called Cobasys which holds all the large-format patent rights to NiMH, and they defend that patent like a mother tiger protects her cubs, suing Panasonic, Sanyo, Toshiba, Yuasa etc. etc. etc. forcing them to become licensees.
The major limitating factor to the use of NiMH's in EV's has been a size limit in the Cobasys licenses that effectivelly precludes the use of NiMH in vehicles any larger than a mild hybrid like the Prius, Malibu etc.
Many auto journalists have tried to get them to talk about it, but all they get is stone wall silence.
Could it be that Chevron/Texaco is using its leverage to stop NiMH from being used in EV's? I'll let you be the judge.
the reason NiMH batteries aren't used in larger auto applications than mild hybrids (Prius etc.) is that their use is limited by license issues.
Key NiMH patents are held by Energy Conversion Devices (ECD), a Detroit area company founded by Stanford R. Ovshinsky, a rather creative fellow who has made major advances in batteries, amorphous solar panels, advanced fuel cells etc.
For a time GM had a joint venture with ECD which allowed them to produce large NiMH batteries for their EV-1 electric car, but with its high costs/unit that project was eventually cancelled and the cars leases not renewed. After this GM let their joint venture expire.
After the GM project ECD started a spinoff joint venture with Chevron/Texaco called Cobasys which holds all the large-format patent rights to NiMH, and they defend that patent like a mother tiger protects her cubs, suing Panasonic, Sanyo, Toshiba, Yuasa etc. etc. etc. forcing them to become licensees.
The major limitating factor to the use of NiMH's in EV's has been a size limit in the Cobasys licenses that effectivelly precludes the use of NiMH in vehicles any larger than a mild hybrid like the Prius, Malibu etc.
Many auto journalists have tried to get them to talk about it, but all they get is stone wall silence.
Could it be that Chevron/Texaco is using its leverage to stop NiMH from being used in EV's? I'll let you be the judge.
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