250 experts attend BATTERIES 2009 to make this a truly global event. Presentations cover latest market trends, raw materials, and a special session on HEV’s. Below is a first selection of presentations…with more to follow next week.

Christophe Pillot, Associate Consultant, Avicenne Développement: “Present and Future Market Situation for Batteries”
Pillot, the scientific director for BATTERIES 2009, sees Li-ion batteries as a clear future trend. Since the key part of an EV/PHEV is the battery, lithium will be the future fuel. He points out the increasing developments in Li-ion battery technology that offer a high potential for scientists and manufacturers from the US and Europe to catch up with the Asian market leaders. Pillot expects HEVs to change the gasoline dogma in the car Industry over the next decade. He adds: “Then, EVs could change totally the battery market on a long term basis.”

Pillot’s statistics showed a growth of the worldwide rechargeable battery market from around 2 billion cells in 1994 to over 5 billion estimated for 2009 with a major increase for li-ion batteries in the last 5 years. Another analysis showed remarkable movements as regards the market share for battery production. Competition from China and Korea in a market initially controlled by Japan (82% in 2001) is growing, leaving also more options for the rest of the world, mainly the US and Europe.

In the attached presentation you can find details about the battery raw material markets, main drivers and limits for the market as well as the PHEV and Li-ion markets.

Keith Hardy, Director, FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership - Vehicle Technologies Program, US DoE: “The Push for Transportation Electrification in the US”
Hardy sees a clear trend in research away from Hydrogen Fuel Cells that has been supported during the Bush era towards PHEV and EV. In general, he also supports the US Government plan of bringing one million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road by 2015 built in the US. He stressed that funding was available for foreign companies as long as manufacturing is based in the US.

The presentation summarises that electric transportation is an important part of the DOE plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil by utilizing domestic resources efficiently and in an environmentally acceptable manner. “Vehicle electrification is technically challenging, but offers opportunities for mutually beneficial global cooperation on technology and policy,” he says.

Find the complete list of DoE grant winner companies at the end of the article.

Christina Lampe-Onnerud, Founder and CEO, Boston-Power Inc: “The Role of Batteries in the Green Economy”
Lampe-Onnerud emphasises the important role of energy storage in protecting the environment on the one hand and saving the economy at the same time. She is convinced that the market can make the decision towards a green development but with the help of accreditation, which is standardized and government sponsored. According to Lampe-Onnerud, private and public procurement involves huge amount of money, which, if put through the right channels, can drive the suppliers towards clean production and sustainable development. As an example she mentioned the Chinese government that does 40% green procurement today and further aspires to increase this number. Since December 2008 there are two eco-labels for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The “Nordic Ecolabel” was the first to recognize Li-ion as category for consumers that has subsequently been copied by the Chinese Government and named “Chinese Ecolabel”.

Besides the need for governmental control she recognised the differences between the car and battery industry as another main problem: “The challenge is getting a 200 year old battery industry to talk to a 100 year old car industry and understand each other.”

Ralph Brodd, President, Broddarp of Nevada Inc: “Recent Advances in Li-Ion Technology”
Key to the use of Li-ion in the automotive market Brodd indicates the cell design, the cost and availability of cells and battery packs as well as the technology that has to meet electrical and life requirements. Furthermore, he adds safety issues, the lithium supply, the costs and the market. Rechargeable lithium with the highest storage capability and a continuously growing performance is for him the only right solution to power the future car. However, safety and reliability are the key areas of concern for cells and packs since the best choice of Li-Ion chemistry is not clear. Different anode materials as well as cathode characteristics influence the research for the most efficient and safe Li-Ion battery composition.

Even though Brodd is confident that Li-Ion meets the needs of the automotive industry, he also underlines that the material choice alone does not guarantee battery safety. “Internal short circuits from manufacturing defects can occur in all cells regardless of the chemistries used,” he states.

More presentations to follow next week…