A123 Systems is replacing lithium-ion battery modules and packs that could fail due to a manufacturing defect, a problem that recently led to the high-profile shutdown of the Fisker Karma luxury sedan during testing by Consumer Reports magazine.
A123 said it discovered defects in certain cells made at its plant in suburban Detroit that CEO David Vieau said can "result in premature failure of the battery module or pack, including a decrease in performance and reduced battery life."
The company, which developed as a start-up at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has begun building replacement modules and packs, and expects to begin shipping them to five affected corporate customers this week, he told reporters on a conference call today.
Vieau said A123 was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect and said the defect did not create a safety issue. However, he acknowledged the defect led the Karma electric car to shut down on March 7 during testing by widely followed consumer magazine Consumer Reports.
A123 expects the replacement to cost about $55 million and that it will be funded over the next several quarters.
Vieau said the company had sufficient liquidity for the campaign but the situation would likely lead to the adjustment of A123's fundraising strategy. He declined to say how many modules or packs were being replaced.
A123 shares closed the day down 12.35 percent to $1.49 a share on the Nasdaq.
Fisker, in a statement, said today it would enhance its current customer service program to include a free battery replacement and an extension to the Karma's North American warranty from 50 months/50,000 miles to 60 months/60,000 miles.
On March 13, Fisker notified customers that it was addressing the problem with a team of 50 engineers.
"The Karma performed exactly as it was designed to," CEO Tom LaSorda said in a letter sent to customers. "The onboard diagnostics detected a fault and entered a protection mode that shut the car down to protect other components."
Electric vehicle troubles
A123's problems were another blow for the electric-vehicle industry still in its infancy and struggling with bad publicity. Last fall, U.S. safety regulators opened a probe into the safety of the batteries in General Motors' Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric car. A123 does not make those batteries.
The probe was subsequently closed and no defect was found, but it hurt Volt sales. GM has idled the Michigan plant that builds the car for five weeks due to weak demand.
Other smaller start-ups in the electric-vehicle sector have closed or filed for bankruptcy due to lack of funding. A123 posted a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss this month after Fisker, one of its largest customers, cut battery orders.
President Barack Obama's administration has been a strong proponent of electric vehicles and set a goal of getting 1 million battery-powered vehicles on the road by 2015.
But since the bankruptcy of Solyndra, a solar panel maker that received $535 million in U.S. loan guarantees, federal support for advanced vehicle technology programs has ground to a halt. Industry officials and analysts point to tightened U.S. Department of Energy requirements in the face of withering criticism from Republicans about the Obama administration's generosity for anything related to green technology.
A new industry
"There is absolutely no time to have battery problems," A123's Vieau said. "This is a new industry with a new technology that's in the process of a learning curve. It's expected that in this environment, there will be challenges.
"We're going to weather those," he added.
A small number of A123's battery packs in the field experienced a malfunction and the company subsequently discovered one of four automated welding machines at the Michigan plant was not correctly calibrated, Vieau said. The problem caused a misalignment of a certain part in some prismatic battery cells that could lead to an electrical short.
The replacement program does not affect cells made with the other three welding machines in the Michigan plant or those built in other A123 plants, he said. Chinese plants that build a different type of cylindrical cell used by such customers as BMW also were not affected.
PRESS RELEASE: A123 Systems Launches Replacement Program for Potentially Defective Battery Packs and Modules
WALTHAM, Mass., March 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries and systems, today announced that the company has launched a field campaign to replace battery modules and packs that may contain defective prismatic cells produced at A123's Livonia, Mich. manufacturing facility. A123 has begun building replacement modules and packs and expects to begin shipping them to impacted customers this week. The company anticipates that the cost of replacing the affected customer modules and packs will be approximately $55 million and expects it will be funded over the next several quarters.
"Recently, A123 has discovered that some prismatic cells made in our Livonia facility may contain a defect which can result in premature failure of a battery pack or module that includes a defective cell. We have isolated the root cause of the defective cells and we are confident that we have pinpointed the source of the defect and corrected it. As a result of engineering analysis and testing, we believe this is not a safety issue, and we have determined the root cause and have taken corrective actions," said David Vieau, CEO of A123 Systems. "We are working to get replacement packs and modules to impacted customers as quickly as possible. It is important to note that this defect has been discovered only in some prismatic cells manufactured at our Livonia facility. Prismatic cells produced at another A123 facility are not impacted. Further, the cylindrical cells we make at our facilities in China for a number of other transportation programs, as well as the majority of our grid energy storage systems and commercial applications, are also not affected by this defect."
Vieau continued, "In parallel with this field campaign, as we have discussed previously, we continue to implement actions that we believe will improve operations and minimize the possibility of quality issues going forward. This includes hiring a Chief Operating Officer, Ed Kopkowski, who has more than 25 years of global management and operational leadership in improving quality and reducing costs. A123 has produced hundreds of thousands of high-quality prismatic cells at another facility, so while the initial rapid ramp up of our Michigan operations to satisfy customer demand has resulted in near-term operational challenges, we are confident in our ability to overcome these issues. We are devoting our full resources to fixing this situation and moving forward to continue delivering high-quality products to our customers."
Additional information and ongoing updates about A123's Livonia prismatic cell field campaign can be found online, CLICK HERE.
Showing posts with label Battery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battery. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Hyundai offers lifetime guarantee for battery pack on Sonata Hybrid
Hyundai is offering a lifetime guarantee for the lithium polymer battery pack in its Sonata Hybrid.
If a Sonata Hybrid’s battery pack fails during the life expectancy of the vehicle, Hyundai will replace the battery for free and pay to have the battery recycled.
The announcement, made today on the sidelines of the Detroit auto show, comes soon after other vehicles powered by advanced battery systems have drawn scrutiny from regulators for possible safety and quality problems.
General Motors has voluntarily offered to add more protection for the lithium ion battery pack in the hybrid Chevy Volt after fires took place in the days or weeks following certain crash tests. The Fisker also recalled 239 Karma plug-in hybrids because of a problem in its cooling system last month.
“We can do that because in our testing, we found really extraordinary battery life -- at least 275,000 miles with a very low failure rate,” John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said on the sidelines of the Detroit auto show today. “We have a lot of confidence in our ability to back that at relatively low cost.”
Hyundai says its lithium ion batteries are the next-generation of lithium ion battery technology powering many advanced vehicles made by competitors.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Tips to Changing Your Vehicle Battery
The lifespan of a car battery is short; hence, it could easily leave you while it's raining or in an uninhabited place. If you are in a place where you could switch your power supply, check out these useful simple steps.
To begin with, you have to be sure if the issue comes from the power supply or from some other part of the automobile. Once you've assured that none of the alternative components are malfunctioning, you can start the "resurrection" of your battery. In some cases it is not mandatory to swap it; you just are required to thoroughly clean it. Inspect it and seek out traces of cakey white substance which doesn't allow the power supply to recharge correctly while being used. This is known as sulfate and generally forms when lead and acid interfere with each other. To be able to clean it you must create a solution of baking soda and water, and pour it on the altered parts. As soon as the sulfate has blended, clean it with an a piece of cloth.
If the procedure doesn't provide good results, it signifies you should say farewell to your former car power supply and buy a new one. You have to be physically prepared for heavy-lifting, as it weighs nearly 24 pounds. Nowadays, many auto parts stores provide a no cost battery installation, however, if you want to be a man and do it all by yourself, you have to stick to a several steps. Right after you have decided that your old electric battery is useless, the whole process of swapping it starts. Just in case you haven't clean it before with a solution made out of baking soda as well as water, you can do it now. Once you make certain that things are clean, search for cracks and acid leakage. Do not put your bare hand on it, mainly because you'll suffer painful burns.
Open up your tool kit and select required tools, for instance vise pliers, crescent wrench, socket wrench and adjustable wrench. The power supply terminal cables are attached to the battery terminals by bolts and nuts, so you will have to have most of those objects. It may seem weird, but you must also have a hammer with you, to give a tap or two in case the terminal cable will not wish to loosen from the terminal post. It's also good to purchase a battery terminal cleaner. It has a low price and can actually prove useful when brushing away corrosion. You may also want to buy a can of corrosion protection, so you will not have to replicate the process too quickly.
Don't forget that safety is first, so wear sturdy gloves and security goggles. Furthermore, the top of a Styrofoam cooler can be used to safely put the instruments that you are working with. Once you decide that it is time for you to switch the old battery, do not forget to take out the keys from the ignition. The car will remain powered on and may generate sparks as well as an explosion in the event you don't take out the keys. In case you have already cleansed the power supply with the baking soda solution, it will be quite easy to unscrew the nuts from the bolts. You can use the hammer to gently knock the posts and also cables and separate the sulfate deposit.
Begin with the detrimental post on the battery, holding the pliers and the wrench so you can change the nut in a counterclockwise direction. Do the same for the positive post. Remember that your equipment can produce a sparkle and may trigger and explosion, therefore put them on the Styrofoam top or at a certain distance car. After you remove the terminal cords, examine the battery for leakages and cracks, and try not to place your hands next to them. Unfasten the plate that helps keeping it in position and be ready to pick up a heavy load.
After you have taken out the old power supply, grab the new power supply, which can be even heavier and place it in the right spot. Fasten it with the secure plate, set back the terminal cables in their negative and positive posts, and you are ready to go. Don't overlook to take your outdated power supply to a recycling facility, since it is regarded as toxic waste materials.
Get more information:
car battery
To begin with, you have to be sure if the issue comes from the power supply or from some other part of the automobile. Once you've assured that none of the alternative components are malfunctioning, you can start the "resurrection" of your battery. In some cases it is not mandatory to swap it; you just are required to thoroughly clean it. Inspect it and seek out traces of cakey white substance which doesn't allow the power supply to recharge correctly while being used. This is known as sulfate and generally forms when lead and acid interfere with each other. To be able to clean it you must create a solution of baking soda and water, and pour it on the altered parts. As soon as the sulfate has blended, clean it with an a piece of cloth.
If the procedure doesn't provide good results, it signifies you should say farewell to your former car power supply and buy a new one. You have to be physically prepared for heavy-lifting, as it weighs nearly 24 pounds. Nowadays, many auto parts stores provide a no cost battery installation, however, if you want to be a man and do it all by yourself, you have to stick to a several steps. Right after you have decided that your old electric battery is useless, the whole process of swapping it starts. Just in case you haven't clean it before with a solution made out of baking soda as well as water, you can do it now. Once you make certain that things are clean, search for cracks and acid leakage. Do not put your bare hand on it, mainly because you'll suffer painful burns.
Open up your tool kit and select required tools, for instance vise pliers, crescent wrench, socket wrench and adjustable wrench. The power supply terminal cables are attached to the battery terminals by bolts and nuts, so you will have to have most of those objects. It may seem weird, but you must also have a hammer with you, to give a tap or two in case the terminal cable will not wish to loosen from the terminal post. It's also good to purchase a battery terminal cleaner. It has a low price and can actually prove useful when brushing away corrosion. You may also want to buy a can of corrosion protection, so you will not have to replicate the process too quickly.
Don't forget that safety is first, so wear sturdy gloves and security goggles. Furthermore, the top of a Styrofoam cooler can be used to safely put the instruments that you are working with. Once you decide that it is time for you to switch the old battery, do not forget to take out the keys from the ignition. The car will remain powered on and may generate sparks as well as an explosion in the event you don't take out the keys. In case you have already cleansed the power supply with the baking soda solution, it will be quite easy to unscrew the nuts from the bolts. You can use the hammer to gently knock the posts and also cables and separate the sulfate deposit.
Begin with the detrimental post on the battery, holding the pliers and the wrench so you can change the nut in a counterclockwise direction. Do the same for the positive post. Remember that your equipment can produce a sparkle and may trigger and explosion, therefore put them on the Styrofoam top or at a certain distance car. After you remove the terminal cords, examine the battery for leakages and cracks, and try not to place your hands next to them. Unfasten the plate that helps keeping it in position and be ready to pick up a heavy load.
After you have taken out the old power supply, grab the new power supply, which can be even heavier and place it in the right spot. Fasten it with the secure plate, set back the terminal cables in their negative and positive posts, and you are ready to go. Don't overlook to take your outdated power supply to a recycling facility, since it is regarded as toxic waste materials.
Get more information:
car battery
Thursday, August 25, 2011
GM partners with battery supplier LG on electric vehicles
General Motors said today that it is partnering with its battery cell supplier, LG Group, to develop electric vehicles.
The agreement, signed Wednesday by GM CEO Dan Akerson and LG President Juno Cho, will “help GM expand the number and types of electric vehicles it makes and sells,” the automaker said in a statement.
It’s the second example this week of automakers looking for partners to help in developing more fuel-efficient cars, as U.S. regulators put in place stricter fuel-economy standards for later this decade. On Monday, Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. said they are partnering to build hybrid light trucks.
The pact with GM broadens opportunities for LG, which supplies battery cells for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.
Staying ahead
Akerson has vowed to stay ahead of the competition on vehicle electrification. He’s pressing his team to reduce the cost of the Volt, partly through economies of scale by applying the technology across more GM vehicles. Earlier this month, GM said the Volt powertrain will be put on an upcoming Cadillac sedan.
The Volt’s success prompted GM and LG to collaborate further on vehicle electrification, leading to a formal alliance, GM said.
Last year, for example, the two companies worked together to develop a demonstration fleet of electric Chevy Cruze compacts, which were used as official vehicles during the G20 summit in Seoul. In its statement today, GM said it now is “market testing” those vehicles.
GM and LG engineers will work together on development of electric vehicle platforms and components, GM said. Vehicles born out of the partnership “will be sold in many countries,” the automaker said.
‘Consumers benefit’
Steve Girsky, GM vice chairman, said in the statement: “Consumers benefit by getting the latest fuel-saving technology faster if we work with the best suppliers and we save time and money in the development process.”
In the statement, Cho said, “We fully support GM’s goal to lead the industry in the electrification of the automobile.”
GM didn’t disclose terms of the agreement but said it does not involve any exchange of equity.
The agreement, signed Wednesday by GM CEO Dan Akerson and LG President Juno Cho, will “help GM expand the number and types of electric vehicles it makes and sells,” the automaker said in a statement.
It’s the second example this week of automakers looking for partners to help in developing more fuel-efficient cars, as U.S. regulators put in place stricter fuel-economy standards for later this decade. On Monday, Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. said they are partnering to build hybrid light trucks.
The pact with GM broadens opportunities for LG, which supplies battery cells for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.
Staying ahead
Akerson has vowed to stay ahead of the competition on vehicle electrification. He’s pressing his team to reduce the cost of the Volt, partly through economies of scale by applying the technology across more GM vehicles. Earlier this month, GM said the Volt powertrain will be put on an upcoming Cadillac sedan.
The Volt’s success prompted GM and LG to collaborate further on vehicle electrification, leading to a formal alliance, GM said.
Last year, for example, the two companies worked together to develop a demonstration fleet of electric Chevy Cruze compacts, which were used as official vehicles during the G20 summit in Seoul. In its statement today, GM said it now is “market testing” those vehicles.
GM and LG engineers will work together on development of electric vehicle platforms and components, GM said. Vehicles born out of the partnership “will be sold in many countries,” the automaker said.
‘Consumers benefit’
Steve Girsky, GM vice chairman, said in the statement: “Consumers benefit by getting the latest fuel-saving technology faster if we work with the best suppliers and we save time and money in the development process.”
In the statement, Cho said, “We fully support GM’s goal to lead the industry in the electrification of the automobile.”
GM didn’t disclose terms of the agreement but said it does not involve any exchange of equity.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
My battery light came on while driving home and now it won't start
QUESTION:
I have a 1997 Chevy Monte Carlo and my battery light came on while driving home and now it won't start. It drove home fine even with the battery light on. The next morning i went out to start it and nothing. What could it be?
ANSWER:
Generally when the alternator starts to fail a Battery light will illuminate on the dash board. This means the battery is no longer being charged , this does not mean the battery has a problem.
Testing : Using a multi-meter set to DC volts, connect the positive and negative leads to the same on the battery with the car's engine running. You should see from 13.2 - 14.7 volts. If you see less than this and confirm it is the same when the engine is running or not, then you know the alternator is not charging.
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