 |
|
EV WORLD EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE |
Seated on Husqvarna riding law tractor is Firefly Energy CEO, Edward Williams. Next to him is senior VP, Mil Ovan. The company’s first development partner is Electrolux, which manufacturers forty percent of the outdoor lawn care equipment in the world under various brand names including Husqvarna, Weed Eater and Poulan.
|
Will a Firefly Spark a Battery Revolution?
By Bill Moore
Giant Caterpillar has given birth to Firefly Energy and our EV World may never be quite the same again. But it’s a good thing.
Open Access Article Originally Published: July 15, 2005
One of the basic components of many lithium ion batteries is cobalt and its price, driven largely by insatiable Chinese demand for steel, has risen from $40,000 a ton to $60,000/ton over the last year.
The same market pressures apply to nickel, the essential ingredient in nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH) used in today's hybrids. Here the price has risen from $10,000 to $14,000/ton in the last twelve months. Even the price of lead -- the core material in every starter battery in the world -- has doubled from $500 to $1000 a ton.
And as demand for these materials increases with the production of even more hybrid-electric vehicles, the price is likely to go even higher.
But what if someone developed a battery whose primary core material is derived from coal at just $40 a ton? Even better yet, it performed as well as either NiMH or Lithium Ion at one-tenth the cost of either and at one third the weight of lead-acid?
Think you might have a winner?
Firefly Energy, a recent spin-off of Caterpillar Corporation in Peoria, Illinois, believes it does and they are racing as fast as they can to bring it to market.
What the company has is a lead-acid battery that has had seventy percent of the lead taken out, replaced by a foam matrix developed from coal and originally intended for use as a "next generation" automotive radiator core.
After discovering a sample on a fellow engineer's shelf, a Caterpillar employee named Kurt Kelley thought it might offer a way to burst the performance barrier of dependable but heavy, cheap but environmentally-costly lead acid batteries. It now appears he was right, though it will take 24-30 months to verify it in the real world.
"What we've done", Mil Ovan, the co-founder and senior vice president of Firefly Energy explained, "is replaced the corrosive, heavy, lead metal grid found in your typical lead-acid battery and replaced it with a composite that doesn't corrode and presents a much higher surface area for (lead-acid) chemistry to generate and store energy".
GO TO NEXT PAGE >>
|
| Times Article Viewed: 16679 |
|
|
|
Reader Comments
A valid email address and confirmation is required before your comment can be posted. Comments not confirmed within
24 hours are automatically deleted.
15 comments so far...
26-Jan-2007
46278
| |
MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R11
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy." We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products should be reduced or eliminated)
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Jan. 26, 2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2
4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance based”)
Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on "performance based" (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product - that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.
Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: renewableenergy2@msn.com
Posted by: Jay Draiman
|
|
21-Jul-2005
8483
| |
I wonder how much this kind of chemistry could reduce lead emissions. The last time I looked there were only three counties in the USA with unsafe levels of lead in the air, and in all three cases there were battery factories of some type in the counties.
Erik, I've had great success with Toro and Black & Decker corded electric equipment. It's the ease of electric without the hassle of batteries. I expect the mower I bought for my dad to last 30 years. The environmental impact is less, too (battery manufacturing is a prime example of heavy industry).
Before I bought the mower I thought I'd cut the cord in half, but that's never been a problem.
"
Posted by: steve erlsten
|
|
23-Jul-2005
8500
| |
Nanotech tubes are the coating used to protect the lead foam from corrosion, according to other articles. Lookes like nanotech batteries and nanotech solar panels are the way of the future!"
Posted by: Greg Collins
|
|
24-Jul-2005
8505
| |
Well, I'm a bit sceptical here. Firstly, the product is not on the shelfs yet, we haven't seen any independent studies. On the positive side Electrolux is a reliable company. Secondly if ChevronTexaco managed to ban Nimh batteries for automotive use they will surely crush any 'wonder' affordable solution like this one even if they had to buy the whole Caterpilar and Electrolux companies to achieve their dirty goal.."
Posted by: Earl Ludowil
|
|
24-Jul-2005
8506
| |
We need to see more. Firefly produce some prototypes and let people like us bata test them. I have an electric car that needs batteries. Make me a set of batteries and I will test them in a motive power application. Others here have battery electric lawn equipment, let them swap out what they have for a Firefly battery and get a real world test on how the batteries will work. We are ready. "
Posted by: Joseph Lado
|
|
25-Jul-2005
8508
| |
Take a look at firefly energy website there are some pdf files with specs. What they are using is a graphite grid in the batteries which makes the overall design 50%lighter among other things. Unfortunately they even don't have any VRLA prototype so contrary to the shown pricture the battery is light years away from being produced and bought by an average Joe.. So sadly yet another PR.."
Posted by: Earl Ludowil
|
|
25-Jul-2005
8516
| |
Earl -- Chevron could buy Caterpillar and Electrolux, but not China.
If this is truly the battery breakthrough as claimed, and if the leaders in China were aware of the potential, I doubt if they would let any corporation get in the way of their national interest. I may not be as sceptical as you, but I wouldn't bet the family farm on unproven claims relating to battery breakthroughs. "
Posted by: Arnold Larsen
|
|
26-Jul-2005
8520
| |
Well, I went through all the videos at the firefly's website and they claim they want to have marketable product within 3 yrs and that was announced OCT 2004. The most memorable moment was when the inventor took the heavy lead acid grid in one hand and then for comparison the new light like plastic foam thingy aka new grid and you could witness the striking difference first hand. In another video there was already a VRLA battery prototype so I was probably too sceptical. I hope these guys will made it.. In any case the EV community should voice its interest and contact the company as frequently as possible.."
Posted by: Earl Ludowil
|
|
02-Aug-2005
8674
| |
Industry and Consumers are ready for a new technology. Even if the efficiency improvement is 10-20% with an improved charge cycle and life sales will rise. Alternative energy users (wind and solar especially) are ripe for a step change in battery technology. Old T-105's and similar thrive because there are no alternatives. A 12V 200 A/HR NiMH would light up the industry with sales."
Posted by: Joseph Lull
|
|
16-Jul-2005
8415
| |
All right! This sounds like the battery breakthrough that is needed. And a home grown solution too. Better batteries are the key to EV success and technologies such as Nimh or Li that require more rare substances than are available can't be a general solution."
Posted by: Greg Collins
|
|
16-Jul-2005
8416
| |
I use a 24vt push mower and a 12vt string trimmer with good results. I am, however, ready to move up to a 48vt self propelled mower with a fan (I live in Hot Houston). 24 volts for a dual string trimmer would also be a nice upgrade so I can trim as fast as the pros.
My old stuff is showing wear and stores don't seem to carry battery versions anymore. I am spoiled on electric and can't stand the thought of going back to stinky gas pollution machines. I am so used to electric that I burned my hand while using my dad’s gas trimmer at his house (I was trying to flip it over to edge with it.
If you are going to make battery electric yard equipment, make it powerful and go for the upper market. Please don't go for the traditional electric lower price wimp market or I fear your products will disappear from stores after only a few short years of limited transition sales. It will take a while for people to get used to the idea that electric’s can have serious power and are actually a luxury to use compared to gas.
We also need bad ass affordable electric cars to show of to the natives – make mine an electric SUV.
Best of luck!
"
Posted by: Erik Sweet
|
|
16-Jul-2005
8422
| |
The battery race where we all win. With the advances in Lithium and now this we will have even better hybrids and plugin hybrid will be less costly. Full electric will be the next step for the masses. What a great race.
Jim "
Posted by: Jim Stack
|
|
17-Jul-2005
8437
| |
I would definately wait until a neutral third party tests these before investing. Frankly, many lead-acid breakthrough claims have been made through the years and none have borne fruit."
Posted by: Ron Fischer
|
|
19-Jul-2005
8451
| |
I hope the testing on this battery verifies its performance. I would love alternatives to lithium and NiMH batteries, especially if they produce similar power at a lower cost."
Posted by: chris pierce
|
|
19-Jul-2005
8455
| |
Could it be that cordless-electric power tools could benefit from this technology too? I have several batteries for my DeWalt 14.4V hand tools (NiCad only I'm afraid) which are on their last legs and at about $60 each to replace I'd like other options which don't suffer the NiCad memory effects. DeWalt isn't in any hurry to change the battery chemistry (I was told by a dealer) so a third-market replacement would suit me fine."
Posted by: Dan Eifert
|
|
|
|
|
