The funding includes $4 million for three core technology research projects (one for LEDs and two for OLEDs), $10.3 million for six product development projects (five for LEDs and one for OLEDs), and $23.5 million for eight SSL manufacturing projects (six for LEDs and two for OLEDs). These projects will address the technical challenges that must be overcome before prices fall to a level where SSL will be competitive with existing lighting on a first-cost basis. This is the sixth round of DOE funding for solid-state lighting core technology research and product development. See the DOE press release, DOE's SSL Program Web site, and the complete list of awardees (PDF 16 KB).
GM Builds First Lithium-Ion Battery Pack for the Chevrolet Volt
General Motors manufactured the first battery pack for its upcoming extended-range electric vehicle (EV), the Chevy Volt, on January 7. The advanced lithium-ion battery pack rolled off the line at GM's Brownstown Battery Pack Assembly Plant just five months after GM invested $43 million in the facility to prepare for the manufacturing of the Volt and other EVs with extended-range capabilities.
The Volt is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity alone, after which a flex-fuel engine-generator kicks in to extend the total driving range to about 300 miles. GM's initial battery production at Brownstown will be used to validate the plant's equipment and processes, and batteries will be sent to GM's Global Battery Systems lab in Warren, Michigan, for testing. This spring, GM will begin shipping batteries to GM's Detroit-Hamtramck plant, the assembly location for the Volt, for use in production validation vehicles. Regular production at Brownstown and Detroit-Hamtramck is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010. See the GM press release and the Chevy Volt Web site.
Ford is also investing heavily in EVs. On January 11, they announced an additional $450 million investment in Michigan as part of its aggressive EV plan. Ford intends to build a next-generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid in Michigan beginning in 2012. The new investment adds to a previously announced $550 million investment in the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, in part for the production of an all-electric Ford Focus, starting next year.
But first, Ford is collaborating with Azure Dynamics to produce an all-electric Ford Transit Connect van, which will be sold in the US and Canada this year. Azure will integrate its battery electric drive train in the Transit Connect van for commercial fleet and retail use. The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect BEV will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with Johnson Controls-Saft, their battery supplier. Looking towards the future, Ford is even working with the University of Detroit Mercy to retrain automotive engineers to develop EVs. See the Ford press releases on the new investment, the Transit Connect BEV, and the retraining program.
GM and Ford can expect plenty of competition in the EV arena. In addition to Toyota's plans to offer one for model year 2012 (see the story below), the Norwegian company Think (once part of Ford) is investing $43.5 million in a factory in Indiana that will produce the all-electric Think City, a highway-capable urban vehicle. Think says the plant could begin assembling vehicles early next year.
