Boston-Power has announced a piece of great news that will get the demand for lithium-iron batteries and jobs up on their feet. The company has already been a familiar figure in the world of longest-lasting, fastest-charging, most environmentally sustainable and safest lithium-ion battery technology platform today and now it plans to build an advanced facility to deliver advanced batteries as needed today.

This not only covers the area of addressing the expected growth in demands for lithium-iron batteries but also means that new jobs will be made available. Approximately 600 new jobs would be needed at the Auburn facility and 2,000 more indirectly through supply chains to be put up.

An award-winning provider of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells to market-leading companies,

Boston-Power will also today provide a ‘first look’ at Swing, the company’s product for Plug-in Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicles (PHEV/BEV). The only eco-certified battery of its kind, Swing is poised to drive the adoption of PHEVs and BEVs by establishing new benchmarks in energy density, long life, safety, weight, cost and environmental sustainability.

“Our goal is to make Massachusetts a manufacturing hub for the advanced batteries that will power the nation’s clean energy future, and Boston-Power’s plan to create this facility in Auburn is a big step toward that goal,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “We look forward to working with the company and our colleagues in the Congressional delegation to make this happen.”

(Source) Press

Tags: battery cells, battery technology, clean energy, electric vehicles, energy density, energy future, environmental sustainability, life safety, lithium, lithium ion battery, supply chains, technology platform

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Perhaps two companies working together can come out and product a new battery product that is seen to become a demand in the coming years as BASF and Sion Power have combined to speed up the cause to accelerate the commercialization of Sion Power’s proprietary lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology, e.g., for the electric vehicle (EV) market and other high-energy applications.

The Sion Power / BASF collaboration targets the development of battery materials to improve Li-S battery life and to increase the energy density and thus extend driving range of future EVs beyond what is currently available with alternative rechargeable battery technologies. Li-S technology already offers significant energy density and weight advantages over those existing technologies.

Improved battery technology is a fundamental requirement for more efficient use of current and renewable energy sources. The recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for $2 billion for the development and manufacture of advanced automotive batteries. All major automotive manufactures are vigorously pursuing the introduction of electric vehicles that are environmentally friendly yet provide the range and comfort consumers expect in an automobile, features that cannot be obtained with any currently available battery technology.

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Tags: basf, battery life, battery materials, battery technologies, battery technology, commercialization, driving range, efficient use, electric vehicle, electric vehicles, energy applications, energy density, fundamental requirement, high energy, lithium, rechargeable battery, reinvestment act, renewable energy sources, technology development

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GE Transportation continues its commitment towards developing and providing leading hybrid technology solutions with the announced plans to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant for advanced storage batteries.

The new battery business will be a part of GE Transportation and will serve customers in the rail, marine, mining, telecommunications and utility sectors. As the leading producer of diesel-electric locomotives, GE has a rich history of delivering breakthrough technologies that are today commonplace in the rail industry.

GE has invested more than $150 million to develop advanced battery technologies, including a high energy-density sodium-based chemistry battery that will provide energy storage for a variety applications, including GE Transportation’s ecomagination certified Evolution Hybrid Locomotive, mining truck drive system and tugboat electrification.

The new $100 million production facility will be located in upstate New York in the Capital Region and will create 350 new manufacturing jobs. New York State has partnered with GE in this project by pledging more than $15 million in incentives. GE also is in the process of filing an application for U.S. Department of Energy stimulus funding for this project.

(Source) Press

Tags: battery business, battery manufacturing, battery technologies, breakthrough technologies, diesel electric locomotives, electrification, energy density, energy storage, hybrid locomotive, Hybrid Technologies, hybrid technology, locomotives ge, manufacturing jobs, manufacturing plant, project source, rich history, storage batteries, tugboat, utility sectors, variety applications

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