An interesting link from a reader this morning:
The Maya 300: An Exxon-Assisted Electric Car
If you’ve picked up a magazine in the last year, you’ve likely seen ads touting ExxonMobil’s (XOM) research into lithium-ion batteries.
This week, you will get a further look into how that technology will come to the marketplace.
Electrovaya on Wednesday will discuss its plans for the Maya 300, an all-electric vehicle coming in 2011. The car will run on lithium-ion batteries, charge in about eight to 10 hours, run for 60 miles and plug into regular 110-volt outlets. It will cost around $20,000 to $25,000. An extended-range battery option will run for 120 miles on a charge and cost $30,000 to $35,000.
Turns out that ExxonMobil makes one of the components of the battery:
Exxon Entering Electric Vehicle Market With Maya 300
Electric vehicles have definitely hit the big time now that gasoline-slinging companies are getting involved. The Maya 300, an all-electric vehicle coming out in 2011, will feature a lithium ion battery separator film dubbed “the SuperPolymer” from Exxon-Mobil. The separator–a critical part of li-ion batteries–can withstand temperatures up to 374 degrees. That’s 85 degrees more than competing separator films can take.
Interesting development. If you asked me which oil company would be involved in battery technologies for electric cars, I wouldn’t have guessed Exxon.
The involvement of Exxon in battery cars puzzles me too. I don't see the fit.
The car itself looks a little pricey to be a commercial success, unless oil goes well above $100 a barrel and stays there.
Still, you gotta admire the engineers who are putting this together. Seems like we are getting closer and closer to viable alternatives to the ICE.
I don't know if there is a "second wave" of improvements yet to happen in lithium, or some other kind of battery. If there is, then I would say "were in" battery cars are viable.
We are close now. But a good, cheap, high mpg ICE still beats out rivals.
It will be fascinating to watch this field for developments.
OT, but this relates to a post a few weeks ago. Not only did Obama meet secretly with oil company execs. Now it comes out that he met with coal company execs – after he was president and is now trying to cover it up.
Newseek: Obama Closes Doors on Openness
As a senator, Barack Obama denounced the Bush administration for holding "secret energy meetings" with oil executives at the White House. But last week public-interest groups were dismayed when his own administration rejected a Freedom of Information Act request for Secret Service logs showing the identities of coal executives who had visited the White House to discuss Obama's "clean coal" policies. One reason: the disclosure of such records might impinge on privileged "presidential communications." The refusal, approved by White House counsel Greg Craig's office, is the latest in a series of cases in which Obama officials have opted against public disclosure. Since Obama pledged on his first day in office to usher in a "new era" of openness, "nothing has changed," says David -Sobel, a lawyer who litigates FOIA cases. "For a president who said he was going to bring unprecedented transparency to government, you would certainly expect more than the recycling of old Bush secrecy policies."
Imagine the outrage from the left and the mainstream media if Dick Cheney had done the same thing.
Look like Maya's an NEV with top speed limited to 25 or 35 mph. Not highway capable. It's going to be in a niche market.
Exxon probably spends more on the ads about this separator than they spent developing the technology itself.
Electrovaya has failed to inform Exxon that their NEV/LSV (neighborhood/low speed vehicle) for $25,000-$35,000 is not DOT/NHTSA approved or licensed for U.S. roads. Major PR faux pas on Exxon's part.
Speed limit is 25 mph (Federal Law), not 25-35 mph as you published.
Your publication/site should do their homework before you write articles, rather than sending false and misleading press releases to the public…..even if it's Exxon.
"Speed limit is 25 mph (Federal Law), not 25-35 mph as you published."
You have gotten yourself confused, because I published nothing of the sort.
"Your publication/site should do their homework before you write articles, rather than sending false and misleading press releases to the public"
You need to strive not to misquote, and then your problems will go away…
RR
doggydogworld, Exxon doesn't spend money on advertising the work they do on their battery R&D…they've been doing it for years. You don't see them advertising the millions of dollars they put into helping millions of kids in Africa with mosquito problems or their education either. Why should they? Damned if they do or don't since your mind is already made up from the press bashing anyway. You better be glad they're in business, because without the billions they pay in taxes every month benefits you and everyone else. But that will change with this destructive energy bill that's going to be passed by our new Hitler. Get ready.
Exxon doesn't spend money on advertising the work they do on their battery R&D…..
They spent no money producing this ad campaign and running it on TV, magazines, etc?
BG seems self-contradictory. Something that the Feds don't approve for U.S. roads would not be subject to a federal speed limit.
Could be a case of splitting hairs.