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The electrification of motoring | The electric-fuel-trade acid test. After
many false starts, battery-powered cars seem here to stay. Are they just an
interesting niche product, or will they turn motoring upside down? Economist
, Sept. 3, 2009.
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14362092
(a) Note:
(i) saloon (n): The British word for “sedan” car in America.
(ii) freshen (vi): “to wash the hands and face, take a shower, put on clean
clothes, or perform other operations designed to improve one’s appearance
or encourage a sense of well being--usu. used with UP.” Webster (3rd ed.,
1961)
(b) Quote:
“Boston Power, founded in 2005 [in Eastern Massachusetts], makes fast-
charging Li-ion cells for consumer products, including some Hewlett-Packard
laptops. The company, which has a factory in Taiwan and plans for one in
Massachusetts, is developing a Li-ion battery called Swing for automotive
use.
“At least one battery-maker, though, has loftier ambitions than merely
supplying carmakers with its wherewithal. BYD, a Chinese firm, seems to have
Panasonic’s success in the world of cameras in mind. Earlier this year it
launched the first of what it promises will be a range of electric cars that
will undercut those made by American and European producers, in part by
using a novel material in the batteries’ electrodes. It claims this will
make those batteries both cheaper than conventional types, and faster
charging. BYD started with fleet sales in China and plans to begin private
sales there later this month and launch its first vehicle in America next
year. The company is being watched closely, not least by Warren Buffett, a
celebrated American investor who has taken a 10% stake in it.
My comment:
(a) The above quotations are about Taiwan and China, respectively. The
briefing gives a bird-eye’s view but up-to-date view of electric cars (the
only defect is about Boston Power, which failed to obtain funding from Obama
’s economic stimulus and therefore would not open a battery factory in
Massachusetts.
(b) It was reported yesterday that BYD confirmed its hybrid did not sell
well, but attributed it to lack of subsidy to buyers, rather than technical
difficulties as reported by 南方周末.
Norihiko Shirouzu, China Urged to Aid Green Car. Wall Street Journal, Sept.
8, 2009.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125224741297789219.html
(c) The second paragraph from the bottom of the briefing states, “Some
researchers already have battery materials they reckon could be recharged in
the time it takes to freshen up and have a snack at a service station. If
they are right, the need for even a range-extender vanishes.”
This may refer to
Carolyn Y Johnson, MIT scientists charged up; New lithium-ion battery
technology holds promise of rapid replenishment. Boston Globe, Mar. 12, 2009.
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/03/12/mit_scientists_charged_up/
(d) Unmanned military aircraft | Attack of the drones; Military technology
: Smaller and smarter unmanned aircraft are transforming spying and
redefining the idea of air power. Economist, Sept. 3, 2009.
http://www.economist.com/search/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14299496
Quote:
“Small drones, by contrast, cost just tens of thousands of dollars. With
electric motors, they are quiet enough for low-altitude spying. But
batteries and fuel cells have only recently become light enough to open up a
large market.
(e) 中国汽车出口骤降.VOA Chinese, Sept. 7, 2009.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2009-09-07-voa88.cfm
(f) Taiwan specializes in electronics. The new development in automotives
and aerospace (cars and airplanes in straight talk) outflanks areas Taiwan
is not excellent at, such as ability to make gas engines. Taiwanese, I am
certain, are busy keeping abreast with new advances and enter markets if
practical. So far, there are many obstacles in making an electric car
economically. That was why billionaire YC Wang 王永慶 once tried his hand on
electric car manufacturing but gave up.
※ 修改:．choi 于 Sep 9 14:35:38 修改本文．[FROM: 65.217.0.0]
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发表于 9-9-2009 10:17:36
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