Austin, Austin? Oh, Valence

Saphion 12V Battery

In Austin there is a public relations effort underway to create business for Valence Technology of Austin: Plug-In Austin Building a Market for Gas-Optional Hybrids (Tiny URL).

According to moondog11us on the gridable-hybrids forum (Yahoo! Groups), “The City of Austin kicked off a major campaign Monday to promote the mass production of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Austin city leaders say batteries in the plug-in vehicles would drastically reduce gasoline consumption — some estimate it would reduce gas use by as much as 70 percent. ”

He quotes a KVUE News reports:

“Plug-in hybrids can help significantly address two very serious problems facing communities and our country,” Mayor Will Wynn stated in a press release. “The over-reliance of America on oil imports and the need to improve air quality in our cities by reducing pollution from automobiles.” (Editor’s note: Sound a bit like the copy that Felix Kramer of CalCars provides.)

Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine gas-electric technology with a larger battery that can be recharged in a standard wall socket. The vehicles that use this technology are not in full production, currently, and only one automaker, DaimlerChrysler, is even considering full production of such a vehicle.

The City of Austin campaign is expected to be a model used by other communities across the country. The promotion includes:

  • An Austin City Council resolution to support mass-production of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
  • Local seed money from electric utilities to help local governments, businesses and the public make the initial transition to the hybrids. Austin Energy officials have committed to provide $1 million.
  • Commitments by the city, Travis County and other governmental agencies to order plug-ins for their fleets of vehicles.
  • A citizen petition drive to encourage automakers to mass-produce the plug-ins.

KVUE

Valence Technology of Austin is already testing prototype plug-in hybrids by converting standard hybrids to use a new Saphion Lithium Ion battery. Company officials say the battery has significantly boosted fuel-efficiency in tests, and gas mileage increased to 125 to 150 miles per gallon.

Next year, the City of Austin will join 10 other cities to test DaimlerChrysler’s Sprinter Van, which is a prototype plug-in hybrid. Officials say that 78 percent of Americans live within 20 miles of their jobs. With a battery pack that could power a vehicle to travel 35 miles on a charge, most people would only need to fill up with gasoline once or twice a month.

“This is an economic stability initiative,” stated Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe. “Escalating fuel prices are hurting everyone. They hinder our ability to deliver services and drive up the cost of all goods. They create tremendous hardships on businesses and households operating on small margins.”

Already Denver media picked up the story that Valence Technology has “created” a lithium-ion battery called a Saphion, which extends the amount of time that a car can go exclusively on electric power. While gas prices are continuing to increase, PHEVs make for a good story, never mind that ThunderSky was selling them in 1998.

When I first saw the posts on gridable-hybrids, I thought it might be a grass-roots effort originating with Austin EV, which belonging to Electric Auto Association, an organization that has been promoting electric vehicles since 1967. Austin EV maintains a photo album of electric vehicles worldwide, as well as promotes the use of EV in the Austin area.

It does seem that Li Ion may be a way to improve electric vehicle usability and if such a PR effort can create a greater market and thus drive down the prices of this technological innovation, then I am in favor of it.

Also, it is important not to confuse your Austins. There was a cameo appearance by a customized Corbin Sparrow in Austin Powers, Goldmember (2002). The Corbin Sparrow is a three-wheel totally electric vehicle (BEV) that could benefit from Li Ion batteries, made in Austin or elsewhere.

Austin Powers, Goldmember

Continue reading here: Co-generation from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators

Was this article helpful?

0 0