a123

A123 Systems will need to replace defective batteries made at its Livonia, Mich., plant, costing the company $55 million.

The company announced today it has isolated the problem and will begin sending replacements battery packs and modules this week. One of the cars affected is the Fisker Karma, which Consumer Reports testers were unable to start during a review earlier month.

A defect in A123 Systems' prismatic lithium ion cells can cause batteries to short out and prematurely fail. The company said it is confident that it has isolated the problem to a single automated welding machine at its Michigan … Read more

Speedy lithium ion batteries, the power source for consumer electronics and electric vehicles, are making inroads into the renewable energy business.

A123 Systems today announced that a Hawaiian wind project developer will use its batteries to firm up power delivery into the grid. The Auwahi Wind project, which has a generating capacity of 21 megawatts, will be buttressed by a giant battery bank able to deliver 11 megawatts of power.

It's the second time this year that A123 Systems' storage systems, built around shipping container-size battery banks, were chosen to be co-located with a wind farm. The Laurel Mountain … Read more

commentary People are still trying to figure out if electric vehicles will be the Netbooks or the iPads of the auto industry--a flash in the pan or an enduring hit.

There has been a spate of recent articles predicting a glut of batteries because demand for plug-in vehicles won't be strong enough to match supply. The Washington Post yesterday pointed out that many battery companies that received federal aid could hit the brakes or run off the road entirely in the near future.

There are already signs of trouble. Lithium ion battery maker A123 Systems had to lay off … Read more

Late-to-the-EV-party Fisker Automotive may be dragging down suppliers with its tardiness. A123 Systems lowered its 2011 revenue forecast due to reduced orders, and it's pointing a finger squarely at the hybrid car maker.

Fisker, which began selling the Karma plug-in hybrid sedan in October, cut the number of battery orders from A123. The auto manufacturer said the reduction was to help it balance inventory levels from all suppliers, which could mean that sales of the $96,000 vehicles aren't as brisk as planned, or that production was slowed due to a reported manufacturing strike in Finland.

A123's … Read more

Lithium ion battery maker A123 Systems today said it will supply an energy storage system attached to a wind turbine in a test that could lead to further grid business in China.

Power equipment manufacturer Dongfang Electric will install a 500-kilowatt battery bank attached to a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine and diesel generator to evaluate how well the batteries can smooth out dips in power production from wind. The system, which can store 125 kilowatt-hours, is scheduled to be installed by the end of the year.

Wind power has boomed in China over the past few years, driven by government … Read more

As automakers add stop-start to their vehicles, the 12-volt battery is getting a makeover.

A stop-start system can wear out a conventional lead-acid battery because the engine restarts every time the vehicle pulls away after stopping.

Likewise, other newly electrified accessories, such as power steering, water pumps, oil pumps, and parking brakes, are increasing the 12-volt battery's workload.

So suppliers have designed batteries that can withstand frequent discharges and recharges. At least two types have emerged:

1. An absorbent glass mat battery is an improved lead-acid battery that is more durable--and more costly--than a conventional battery. Johnson Controls of … Read more

Lithium ion battery company A123 Systems today said that it will supply a 20-megawatt battery for grid storage in northern Chile, one of the larger projects to use batteries to fortify the grid.

AES Gener, a division of U.S.-based power generation company AES, will install 10 shipping container-size storage systems in northern Chile to work in conjunction with a new 500-megawatt power plant called Angamos.

The batteries will be used for "spinning reserves" to ensure grid reliability by filling gaps in power in that area, which needs a reliable supply of electricity for mining operations. The … Read more

Lithium ion batteries aren't just for your laptop anymore. A group of truck-size battery banks are delivering quick bursts of power to the electricity grid in upstate New York.

AES Energy Storage, a subsidiary of power generation company AES, last week said that the first 8 megawatts of a planned 20-megawatt battery grid storage system are now online in Johnson City, N.Y. The full project is expected to be completed later this year.

The network of batteries is designed to keep an even balance between energy supply and demand in that portion of the New York grid. The … Read more

The billions of dollars being plowed into electric vehicle battery manufacturing around the world is helping jump-start another clean-energy industry: storage on the electric grid.

Earlier this week, A123 Systems opened a plant in Livonia, Mich., to make lithium ion battery components and packs for hybrid and electric vehicles. Among the government officials at the event were state governor Jennifer Granholm and Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who called it a key step to restarting manufacturing in the U.S..

Ramping up lithium ion battery manufacturing by A123 Systems and other companies is projected to drive down the cost of batteries … Read more