Electric vehicles may be seen as a strong environmental solution, but what if their batteries have a negative effect on the environment? Well, a team from Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology decided to put this to the test.

They compiled a detailed lifecycle inventory of a lithium-ion battery with a rough lifecycle analysis of battery electric vehicle mobility. The study, published in the ACS journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that the environmental burdens of mobility are dominated by the operation phase irrespective of whether a petrol-fuelled ICEV or an electricity fuelled battery electric vehicle is used.

According to the study, compared to an internal combustion engine vehicle, the use of a battery electric vehicle in transport results in lower environmental burdens although the PM10, NOx and SO2 emissions were higher.

It found that the share of the total environmental impact of e-mobility caused by the battery is 15 per cent. This comes from the extraction of lithium for the components of the battery (2.3 per cent) and the supply of the copper and aluminium for the production of the anode and the cathode as well as the required cables or the battery management system.

The electric vehicle studied was comparable to a Volkswagen Golf in size and had a range of 124 miles per charge with an assumed lifetime of 93,000miles. Environmental burdens were expressed over a timeframe of 100 years and it was determined that the lithium-ion battery plays a “minor role” regarding environmental burdens irrespective of the impact assessment method used.

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As it moves closer to launching its Focus Electric model, Ford has selected Compact Power Inc as the supplier of its lithium-ion battery packs for the vehicle.

The company, which is also supplying battery packs for the Chevrolet Volt, will use its expertise in advanced prismatic lithium-ion cells and advanced liquid-cooled modules and battery management systems to boost the vehicle which is scheduled for launch in 2011.

Compact Power will begin assembling the battery packs next year and is currently finalising its production site selection for the US. The cells for the packs will be initially sourced from Korea, although it is hoped to introduce localised cell production from Holland, Michigan.

The target range for the Ford Focus Electric is up to 100miles per full charge. It will be produced at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, and is one of six electric vehicles Ford will bring to the US market over the next two years – the others being a Transit Connect Electric; a small commercial van; two new lithium-ion battery powered hybrids; and a plug-in hybrid. 

Ford has previously announced plans to invest around $550million into the Michigan Assembly Plant in a bid to transform it from a large SUV factory into a modern car plant that will also produce a next generation hybrid and a plug-in hybrid in 2012. All vehicles will be built from Ford’s new global C-car platform.

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The race to be at the front of the lithium-ion battery market as electric cars become mainstream, is heating up with South Korea announcing plans to invest 15trillion won to become the world’s dominant producer of rechargeable batteries.

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry of Educational Science and Technology has launched a new “Battery 2020 Project” with the aim of pooling resources from the private sector and the state in the hope of gaining control of the sector.

South Korea is already among the dominant players in the market – its companies, along with those in China and Japan, controls 95 per cent of global production. However, Japan’s Sanyo is the leading player with 20 per cent of the market; followed by Samsung and LG which control 19 per cent of worldwide production.

The Battery 2020 project hopes to boost local sourcing for parts and materials while also developing technologies that will boost competitiveness. It is predicted by the Government that there will be up to 10 globally competitive battery manufacturers in the next decade.

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A two fold increase in energy density will be required over the next 30 years, according to one scientist reviewing the challenges facing lithium-ion battery development.

Dr Jean-Marie Tarascon, a materials scientist of the Laboratoire réactivité et chimie des solides (LRCS) at Université de Picardie Jules Verne, outlines that for applications from which cost and material resources are crucial, organic li-ion and na-ion will play an important role for years to come.

In his paper, Dr Tarascon suggests that there is a colossal task ahead if batteries are to really compete with petroleum as an increase by a factor of 15 is needed for the energy delivered by a battery to match that of a litre of petrol. He says that the energy density of batteries has only increased by a factor of five over the last two centuries and the chances of a 10-fold increase over the next few years are slim without unexpected research breakthroughs.

However, he does believe there is room for optimism if there is a pursuit of paradigm shifts while also looking into materials sustainability – such as ways to prepare electrode materials through eco-efficient processes or the use of organic not inorganic materials and new chemistries.

He believes that the chances of drastically improving lithium-ion cell energy density are primarily rooted in cathode materials that are highly oxidising or larger capacity.

In the long term he believes that improving lithium-ion technology and preserving its sustainable aspect will need out of the box solutions. However, with an increasing number of groups becoming involved with the system there is promise. He warns however that solutions need to be found quickly and there is a need for cross sharing of information between national programmes to deal with energy related matters.

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Hitachi has formed a new company in-house as it attempts to strength its grip on the rapidly expanding lithium-ion battery market.

Known as the Battery Systems Company, it will incorporate Hitachi Maxwell Ltd and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, both of which were set up to develop, manufacture and market rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles and other applications. In fact, in January this year, the Hitachi Vehicle Energy Company introduced new cells specifically targeted at plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Now Hitachi is expected to promote the Battery Solution Business, including maintaining optimum control of battery recharging and discharging in large-scale industrial appliances, as well as in smart grids and other future applications. It hopes to establish revenues in the region of US$2.7billion in fiscal 2014.

The lithium-ion battery market will be its focus due to the expansion of smart grids and other fields. The Battery Systems Company will promote the rollout of the Battery Solution business as well as maintenance and other related services.

Hitachi is also expected to collaborate with Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Company Ltd, which is involved in the lead rechargeable battery and lithium-ion battery businesses.

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Nissan has taken an important step towards its electric vehicle future by breaking ground on its lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The plant will produce the batteries for the Nissan LEAF from 2012 and onwards and is one of the largest vehicle battery manufacturing plants in North America at 1.3million sq ft. At full capacity it will be able to produce 200,000 advanced technology batteries every year.

It will be located opposite the vehicle assembly plant that will produce the Nissan LEAF at a rate of around 150,000 electric cars annually.

The Japanese manufacturer is expected to pour around $1.7billion into the construction of the battery plant and the modification of the manufacturing facility with support from a US Department of Energy loan for 80 per cent of the investment. The loan was part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Programme.

It is hoped that the Nissan LEAF will have significant success in the US with around 13,000 customers having already placed reservations for the vehicle – it will begin its roll out in spring 2011.

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Some of the earth’s rarest metals are key to the development of a number of clean energy technologies including hybrid vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines. So it’s no surprise that the US Department of Energy has now released a request for information soliciting information on these materials.

The request focuses on rare metals such as cerium, lanthanum and neodymium as well as other metals including lithium and cobalt. Responders can also add further information on other materials.

The DOE wants more information on demand for these materials as well as issues relating to their supply; technology applications and processes; substitutes; recycling; costs and availability; intellectual property; and any additional information.

This announcement follows on from a speech made by David Sandlow, the assistant secretary of energy for policy and international affairs, in March, who stated that the DOE is developing a strategic plan concerning rare earth metals. The responses received on this investigation will help the DOE to determine supply and demand as well as the opportunities for developing substitutes. The deadline for submission is 5pm EDT on June 7.

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Mainstream electric cars on UK roads took a giant leap forward this past week when Japanese car maker Nissan gave access to its potential game changing car the LEAF to members of the media, fleet operators and other interested parties. And TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk was on hand to put the car through its paces.

For those unfamiliar with the LEAF, it’s safe to say that this new car has the potential to radically change the perception of battery-powered cars from that of small, slow, pondering conversions and niche vehicles into something which will be seen in every major town and city in the coming years.

As you may have guessed from the use of capital letters the car’s name is an acronym which means “Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car”, and just goes to highlight exactly what Nissan is looking to achieve with the new car. In the truest sense the car is the first electric car which has comparable cabin space to that of a conventional small family car. With the car’s power source of 48 advanced lithium-ion battery cells stored away under the cabin in the floor, the backseats and boot are useful, everyday spaces with room enough for family and luggage.

Home at the range

With a driving range of around 100 miles, or 160km, the manufacturer is confident that this figure will satisfy the majority of journeys. Recharging those Lithium-ion batteries will take eight hours using a standard outlet, however quick charge units will begin to pop up in a variety of locations – from on street parking, to supermarkets, and service stations – which sees recharge times fall dramatically to around 30 minutes for an 80% charge. To put that in perspective it would be like using the Nissan LEAF to do a weekly shopping trip to a supermarket some 50 or 60 miles away, using the recharge facilities at the store and then returning. How many people travel that kind of distance on a daily basis? Very few. London has recently committed to installing around 7,500 charging points in the next few years, with fellow “plugged-in places” winners the North East and Milton Keynes also confirming that significant investment in recharging infrastructure is about to begin in earnest.

Ultimately, however, the Nissan LEAF will live and die by how it performs on the road, and having driven an advanced prototype of the Nissan LEAF, the Tiida to be precise, performance is instantly surprising and initially at least a little disconcerting. Anyone familiar with an automatic transmission will immediately feel at home, there’s no clutch, no conventional gear stick, instead there are the two pedals – the brake and accelerator, and a small drive selector, with forward, park and reverse. Putting your foot on the brake pedal, select drive and you’re ready for the off. Accelerating away, the first thing you become aware of is the absence of almost all noise, the only rumble comes from the tyres on the tarmac, the second thing to hit you is the immense torque you feel as the car accelerates – the last thing this car is ponderous. Once the initial surprise has passed, the vehicle feels and responds with the familiarity of a conventional car, handling is crisp and responsive, the weighting of the brake pedal feels the same. Presumably the engineers at Nissan have worked hard at replicating the ‘feeling’ of driving and engineered the LEAF to mimic the cars we’re all used to driving today. Happily the car doesn’t suffer from that additional weight which housing 48 battery cells naturally adds to the car, some 300kg of the car’s weight is its batteries, but thanks to their equal distribution in the floor of the car, this additional ballast has little effect on the car’s poised handling on the test track.

Clever thinking

Some of the most exciting developments however have nothing to do with the batteries under the floor; it comes in the form of the advanced IT system controlling the car. Almost like something out of Knightrider, the car communicates with its owner via text message, letting him know when it’s fully charged. This communication channel is a two-way street too, with the latest smart phones you’re able to text the car to begin charging, or to begin warming up the cabin on a cold morning, or to just check the level of charge in the batteries.

The built in sat nav is also next generation, with advanced mapping which highlights where the car can travel to on its available charge, furthermore all public charging points on the National Grid will be intelligent, allowing the driver to see in real time which bays are free – in both senses of the word. Free from use and free to recharge. Clever stuff indeed.

Lowering the cost of motoring?

For many people the environmental consideration of an electric car takes a backseat to the increasing costs of car ownership, so how does the Nissan LEAF stack up? At the time of writing, the Japanese manufacturer has yet to confirm UK pricing, however with a price tag in native Japan of around £23,000 the car promises to be affordable for many. In fact, here at the TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk we’re expecting the price for early adaptors to come in at just a shade under £23,000, when the Government’s electric car subsidy is taken into account. That’s the equivalent of a top spec Toyota Prius. With prices at the fuel pumps rising at an almost daily basis then knowing that a full charge of the battery will cost something like £2 and you can begin to appreciate that the Nissan LEAF should truly be affordable. For people living in London the car will also be exempt of congestion charges too, giving further weight to the EV argument.

With very positive first impressions the Nissan LEAF will continue to be put through its paces in real-world environments ahead of its limited launch in Japan and the USA late in 2010. Europe is expected to see the first LEAFs at some point in 2011, with Sunderland-built Nissan LEAFs rolling off the production line from 2013 onwards – in fact, Nissan has a projection of 50,000 units coming out of the North East on an annual basis. The company will also establish a plant in Sunderland to produce 60,000 batteries for their EVs.

Nissan, along with its alliance partner Renault, looks to have taken a decisive lead in the mass production of the electric car, and if the Nissan LEAF lives up to its undoubted potential then it is a very welcome addition to UK roads.

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You may know it for its mobile phones, but now South Korea based Samsung SDI wants to establish itself as the leading lithium-ion battery producer in the world.

According to reports in The Korea Times, the company has a “big deal” with a car manufacturer “in the pipeline”. Currently, it is supplying lithium-ion batteries to BMW Group through its SB LiMotive joint venture with Bosch and it also has a 10-year supply deal in place with Delphi for hybrid commercial trucks and buses.

With increasing demand for lithium-ion products such as smart phones, laptops, computers and digital cameras, Samsung is eager to exploit demand.

Spokesman Seo Hae-su outlined that it would be possible for the company to become the leading lithium-ion battery producer in the world by the end of the year, citing predictions from marketing firm International Information Technology.

Currently, the leading position is held by Sanyo with the Japanese Economic Centre reporting that the Panasonic Group, which includes Sanyo, held a 43.1 per cent share of the world market in 2009. By contrast, Samsung SDI held a 15.1 per cent share; with BYD in third place at 8.9 per cent.

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The race is on to get ahead in the green car era – and now Japan, already the frontrunner, is planning to offer economic aid to countries that produce rare earth metals or lithium in exchange for supplies of their resources.

That’s the report from Japanese business daily The Nikkei, which suggests the materials would be used in hybrid and electric vehicles.

It would be the first deal of its kind with the government planning to extend tens of billions of yen in loans by May or June to Bolivia to help build a 100MW geothermal power plant. This would in turn allow Japan to secure supplies of lithium with the country also planning to co-operate scientifically and technologically to build businesses around the material.

At the moment, around half of the world’s lithium deposits are believed to be in Bolivia’s Great Lake of Uyuni with the likes of Japan, Brazil and France eager to tap into the reserves. A decision about which companies will be rewarded the development work is likely to be reached by the end of June.

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