Energy Storage

STMicroelectronics is taking the first step to extending its family of RFID/NFC wireless memory ICs with a new 16-Kbit device that can also harvest enough energy to enable small electronic items using it to become completely battery-free electronic applications.

Those designing electric vehicles have much in common, whether they are hybrid or pure electric, on-road, off-road, on-water, underwater or in the sky.

Electric vehicles larger than cars include many boats, trucks, buses and other industrial and commercial vehicles, manned and unmanned aircraft and military vehicles for the field of combat and supply lines, even tugs for aircraft. Some electric vehicles are the size of a car but pack a much bigger punch.

Infinite Power Solutions has launched a new family of products - the THINERGY MEC200 series micro-energy cells (MECs).

Lew Fulton of the IEA projected global oil production as level for now. There is a strong need for carbon dioxide reduction and the likely sale of PEVs and PHEVs is consistent with a reasonable achievement in respect of this. He said that transport 40-50K EV+PHEV will be sold in 2011.

Dr Peter Harrop provides an update on the International Electromobility Conference Ljubljana.

Contrary to popular understanding, people have been making money out of electric vehicles for over 110 years. Unfortunately there have also been bankruptcies in the electric vehicle business in most of those years. The primary difference lies in market positioning not brilliant inventions, working long hours, automation of production, matching the size of your operation to the amount of business you can realistically gain - avoiding over and under-investment - and other aspects that come to mind. Those are sometimes important but always secondary. In market positioning, the two key factors are avoiding excessive competition, including rigged markets, and making what will be wanted in the years to come.

The Energy Harvesting Network in the UK has recently launched a roadmap to identify a new generation of research challenges in the field of energy harvesting for structural monitoring.

The Paper Battery Company has been selected to receive a $1 million award.

Europe's largest electric vehicle show eCarTec, that has just taken place in Munich Germany, was an excellent place to see the latest trends and dead ends in electric vehicles.

This article shares some of the research carried out in producing the new IDTechEx report, Industrial and Commercial Electric Vehicles - the Next Decade. Those selling components for electric vehicles and those wishing to make the vehicles themselves must seek where the majority of the money is spent and will be spent.

Energy harvesting comes to the fore with electric vehicles because the price they pay for being environmental and exhibiting many performance advantages is that they have limited energy available.

The low carbon vehicle specialist Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) is developing a 48 volt version of its electric supercharger based on its variable torque enhancement system known as VTES. The more powerful higher voltage variant will support moves by European vehicle manufacturers announced earlier this year to introduce 48 volt passenger vehicle power networks to help meet the requirement for lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Researchers from the NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI) have developed the world's first energy-storage membrane, answering the need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy storage and delivery solutions.

According to the World Bank, 1.6Bn people, over one fifth of the world's population, lack access to electricity via a grid and pay high prices for kerosene to serve basic needs such as lighting. Solar lamps and phone chargers have been available for some time but the initial cost is beyond the reach of many potential users. Now Eight19, a developer and manufacturer of printed plastic solar technology has an inexpensive pay-as-you-go, personal solar electricity system for the developing world.

CEATEC is a comprehensive IT and electronics trade show where world-leading technologies, products and services are announced, and is currently being held in Tokyo, Japan.

World's first energy-storage membrane outstrips existing rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors.

Researchers from the National University of Singapore's Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI) have developed the world's first energy-storage membrane, answering the need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy storage and delivery solutions.

Trojan Battery Company and Palladium Energy have formed a strategic alliance to develop clean energy battery solutions for a broad range of industries.

University of Leeds scientists have invented a new type of polymer gel that can be used to manufacture cheaper lithium batteries without compromising performance.