Panasonic

Can Sony Li-ion batteries recover market share?

Sony was once the leader in the lithium-ion "Li-ion" battery market. In 1991, it was the first in the world to commercialize them. It has focused mainly on compact batteries for PCs and mobile phones. The lithium-ion battery market continues to expand, driven by strong demand for mobile phones, PCs and now electric vehicles. For example, such batteries are seen in an increasing minority of pure electric forklift trucks and boats, in most off-road electric vehicles and in virtually all Autonomous Underwater Vehicles AUVs, electric aircraft and electric airships, not just in on-road electric vehicles from buses to trucks, cars and some e-bikes. Sony is noticeably absent from all this vehicle activity, despite Sony CEO Howard Stringer announced plans, in 2009, to enter the automotive battery business.

Two devices will replace lead acid traction batteries

It is like waiting for a bus. You wait and wait then two come at the same time. Alternatives to short lived, toxic lead acid traction batteries, with their indifferent performance, have been sought for over 100 years. Now both lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors are near to replacing lead acid traction batteries in the many traction applications where they are still used.

Report on advanced energy storage technology highlights big changes

A report covering the analysis of over 40,000 patents granted in the last five years in the field of energy storage technologies for electric vehicles - meaning e-mobility - shows that two Japanese players - Panasonic and Toyota now dominate the scene closely followed by two Korean firms - Samsung SDI and LG Chemical.

Report on advanced energy storage highlights big changes in five years

A report covering the analysis of over 40,000 patents granted in the last five years in the field of energy storage technologies for electric vehicles - meaning e-mobility - shows that two Japanese players - Panasonic and Toyota now dominate the scene closely followed by two Korean firms - Samsung SDI and LG Chemical.

Range extenders for hybrid vehicles - second vs third generation

We are in the decade of the hybrid electric vehicle despite the fact that most off road and underwater vehicles are pure electric.

New report on advanced energy storage technologies

A report covering the analysis of over 40,000 patents granted in the last five years in the field of energy storage technologies for electric vehicles - meaning e-mobility - shows that two Japanese players - Panasonic and Toyota now dominate the scene closely followed by two Korean firms - Samsung SDI and LG Chemical.

New GS Yuasa traction battery orders

GS Yuasa Corp has just announced that it has reached a broad agreement to supply lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles now under joint development by PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Range extenders for hybrid vehicles -2nd vs. 3rd generation

We are in the decade of the hybrid electric vehicle despite the fact that most off road and underwater vehicles are pure electric.

OLED Joint venture between Panasonic Electric Works and Idemitsu Kosan

Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka; President: Shusaku Nagae; hereinafter referred to as PEW) and Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Kazuhisa Nakano; hereinafter referred to as Idemitsu) announced that they had resolved to establish a joint venture for developing, manufacturing and marketing organic light-emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as OLED) lighting panels.

Japan installs EV charging vending machines

Adapting small, populous, publically available units into electric vehicle charging stations is appearing to become something of a trend. Telekom Austria have renovated archaic phone booths into charging stations and now Panasonic Electric Works are set to lead an initiative that will see Japanese motorists charging up at vending machines.

Printed electronics is now about doing business

Excitingly, the subject has now moved beyond peer reviewed academic papers to doing business. The largest European event on the subject will again be Printed Electronics Europe in Düsseldorf Germany in April 5-6 (www.IDTechEx.com/peEurope) and it will be all about who can sell to whom and how this powerful enabling technology can transform society for the better as well as creating wealth.

Printed electronics - many new directions

Samsung Electronics of South Korea had approximately $132 billion in sales in 2010 and it is prioritising printed electronics for the future, its commitment extending to making its required materials, production machines and components and manufacturing complete products based on this new and versatile technology.

Printed Electronics in Korea

IDTechEx recently visited Korea to learn more about the progress with Printed Electronics there - find out more.

Traction battery winner will be Toyota?

We used to have battery makers and car makers and little connection between the two

Printed electronics enters fast growth phase

Printed electronics is associated with some orders, investments and acquisitions that are one hundred times as big as the largest two years ago.

Sony to unveil two professional OLED monitors

Sony plans to unveil two professional OLED monitors aimed at the CRT replacement market, at the Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat, 14-18 February in Palm Springs, California. Carolyn Giardina reports.

The growing EV market will fail without battery size standards support

The growing EV market will fail without battery size standards supported by OEM's and battery companies

Panasonic Invests $30 Million in Tesla

Panasonic has invested $30 million in Tesla. The investment was made through the purchase of Tesla common stock in a private placement at a price of $21.15 per share.

The future of electric buses

The major growth in electric buses is in free running versions which cost $50,000 to $500,000 and can usually be deployed without infrastructure along the route. The larger electric buses tend to be hybrid to get the range: smaller ones tend to be pure electric. The IDTechEx report, "Electric Vehicles 2010-2020" estimates that there are about 480,000 buses in the world - mostly small ones - with about 135,000 being bought each year as the fleets grow. Although only 12% of these new buses are electric, penetration is increasing and there is a multibillion dollar market awaiting.