Dr. Walter van Schalkwijk PhD

GLG News by Dr. Walter van Schalkwijk PhD, Principal

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Plug-In Hybrids ... another tailpipe dream

April 4, 2007

Analysis of:In Quest for Cleaner Energy, Texas City Touts Plug-In Car | online.wsj.com

Battery cost and the need for at least some infrastructure will limit the market penetration of plug-in hybrids

Fuel cells may have their place ... if used correctly

August 21, 2006

Analysis of: GM plant experiments with hydrogen fuel cells | www.mmh.com

This is a beta test – one of so many such tests that are intended to make its users look “Green” more than for any practical purpose.

Fuel cell powered forklifts - like their propane-powered cousins need to lift ... and lift takes ballast - and ballast means weight. This is one application that because of their weight is best suited for batteries.

Wind Power: Check the Maps

August 2, 2006

Analysis of:Texas Leads US In Wind-Power Capacity | online.wsj.com

The area comprised of the Texas Panhandle, The Oklahoma Panhandle, and SW Kansas, represents a large area of class 3 and class 4 winds that are consistent year round.

Many of the other areas of the country with high wind classifications are subject to seasonal variations that will make their output less consistent than can be obtained in the TX/OK/KS area.

There are many good areas of the country where wind is strong and seasonally consistent so as to make a wind installation profitable year round.

The Realities of Butanol

August 2, 2006

Analysis of:A Competitor For Ethanol? | www.forbes.com

The move toward butanol will make alcohol mixtures and flex fuel cars more common and may even preclude the need for engine modifications.

The advantages of butanol over ethanol are (1) higher energy content per unit volume, (2) ability to use the fuel with little or no engine modification, and (3) the ability to use the fuel in higher concentrations (resulting in larger markets for butanol than for ethanol and reduced dependence on petroleum).

In existing cars without retrofit, butanol can be mixed in higher ratios with gasoline than can ethanol. In fuel mixtures, the share of butanol can be 60% greater than for ethanol.

Companies Waking to the Reality of Portable Power Choices

July 19, 2006

Analysis of: Dell Seeks Gov't Help On Exploding Laptop | www.crn.com

The importance of the battery and its economic impact are not well recognized in some organizations – it is not their core technology.

The consequences of a poor battery choice or implementation can result in major problems for the product image or result in lawsuits.

A product that will sell $500 M over its lifetime will have $75M to $125 M of that product as battery or other source plus accessories.

Ford Returns Closer to its Core technologies

July 17, 2006

Analysis of:Shifting Focus: Ford Moving Emphasis from Hybrids to Clean Diesel and Ethanol | www.autonews.com

In the past, Ford has ventured outside its core powertrain technologies (gasoline and diesel)

The move toward biodiesel and ethanol is a return to hydrocarbon-based power

Ford should step carefully if it continues toward hybrids based on Lithium-ion batteries

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