Toyota RAV4 EV

[CosmicCowboy]

It could mean that the patent doesn't yield any viable results. The patent claim might not be real. It might be too expensive of a process. The process may have expensive environmental impact for mass production. It wouldn't be the first time that something turns out to be only hype. Any one of several factors could make the claims BS.

Is this possible in the same category as the 100 MPG carburetor?

None of the above and no it's not the 100mpg carburetor...the technology works.

The problem was that they could never get any of the big three automakers to commit to an electric car...there was a move that direction when California passed a law that 2% of cars sold in California had to be electric...the auto guys got interested but then California pushed the deadline way back and the automakers lost interest again. It was a chicken/egg scenario...they had the patents and the technology but weren't going to invest in a 100 million dollar manufacturing facility to make 25amp hour batteries without a large order commitment from a US car maker. They were almost there with GM and Saturn when the hit the fan with GM and the ultimate bailout and closure of saturn.

[Wild Cobra]

Bull patents don't get cross-licensed or receive multi-million dollar yearly royalty payments.

This is likely true. Patents sometimes are bought and sold because of single elements within then also. I'm only saying that it is possible the claim made, at least about the life and power density may not be as listed in an earlier post.

[Fabbs]

Is this possible in the same category as the 100 MPG carburetor?

As CC and other posted, it works.
Read the facts on the few hundred or so RAV4 EVs that the oil pigs failed to kill in 2003.
Read the OP.

[ElNono]

None of the above and no it's not the 100mpg carburetor...the technology works.

The problem was that they could never get any of the big three automakers to commit to an electric car...there was a move that direction when California passed a law that 2% of cars sold in California had to be electric...the auto guys got interested but then California pushed the deadline way back and the automakers lost interest again. It was a chicken/egg scenario...they had the patents and the technology but weren't going to invest in a 100 million dollar manufacturing facility to make 25amp hour batteries without a large order commitment from a US car maker. They were almost there with GM and Saturn when the hit the fan with GM and the ultimate bailout and closure of saturn.

And the flip side was that the patents simply cornered the US market. Toyota and Panasonic have been willing to invest in that technology, and did, but on their own. But those patents simply made rolling out their solutions in the US a whole lot more expensive (and thus, risky).

[Wild Cobra]

None of the above and no it's not the 100mpg carburetor...the technology works.

The problem was that they could never get any of the big three automakers to commit to an electric car...there was a move that direction when California passed a law that 2% of cars sold in California had to be electric...the auto guys got interested but then California pushed the deadline way back and the automakers lost interest again. It was a chicken/egg scenario...they had the patents and the technology but weren't going to invest in a 100 million dollar manufacturing facility to make 25amp hour batteries without a large order commitment from a US car maker. They were almost there with GM and Saturn when the hit the fan with GM and the ultimate bailout and closure of saturn.

This makes sense.

I wish they still made Trans Am's myself.

[ElNono]

For more detail, here's the story from Wiki:

Patent en brance of large automotive NiMH batteries

[CosmicCowboy]

And the flip side was that the patents simply cornered the US market. Toyota and Panasonic have been willing to invest in that technology, and did, but on their own. But those patents simply made rolling out their solutions in the US a whole lot more expensive (and thus, risky).

It's actually ironic that it was originally GM technology licensed to Toyota that kicked GM's ass with the Prius.

[boutons_deux]

So where are the Ovonic-technology batteries from BASF?

[CosmicCowboy]

So where are the Ovonic-technology batteries from BASF?

They just bought the company 4 months ago.

[Fabbs]

BASF grants license for manufacture of lithium-ion cathode precursor materials to OM Group, Inc.

ISELIN, NJ, May 30, 2012 – BASF Corporation, through its Ovonic battery materials affiliate, today announced that it has granted OM Group, Inc. (OMG) a royalty-bearing license covering cathode precursor materials used in lithium-ion batteries. The license also covers the proprietary processes used to manufacture these materials.



Ovonic, based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, is the global leader in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery technology and a leading producer of cathode materials and their precursors for both NiMH and lithium-ion batteries.



Ovonic has a formidable portfolio of more than 220 worldwide patents covering its cathode materials and precursors, as well as its innovative production processes for manufacturing such materials. Since 1996, Ovonic has produced mixed metal oxide cathode materials in its Troy, Michigan, facility using its proprietary production processing technology.



“We are pleased to establish a process and materials licensing agreement with OMG following the successful completion of a joint development program that has proven the applicability of Ovonic’s technology in meeting OMG’s exacting requirements,” said Ralf Meixner, Senior Vice-President of BASF’s Battery Materials business. “We remain committed to driving our customers’ success by providing low-cost, high-yield solutions for the manufacture of high-quality cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.”



“We have found Ovonic’s proprietary manufacturing process to be a flexible, cost-effective solution for OMG,” said Steve Dunmead, Vice President and General Manager, Specialties, OMG. “The Ovonic license allows for the production of a wide range of cathode precursor materials including nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) chemistries for lithium-ion batteries, which provides a strong fit with our business needs.”
http://www.catalysts.basf.com/p02/US...s/news/news156