GLG News by Stainless Steel Experts

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries Are Being Steadily Improved And Clearly Outperform Existing Lithium-Ion Batteries In Production OEM Vehicles

March 11, 2009

Analysis of:Azure Dynamics Hybrid Delivery-Truck Test Drive: Gas/Electric Hybrid Offers 30 Percent MPG Improvement | www.popularmechanics.com

The CEO of the Korean electronics giant, LG, said recently that nickel metal hydride batteries were "primitive" and would be soon replaced by "advanced" lithium-ion batteries for use in the electrification of vehicles. This comment was pure hype and was biased by the fact that LG has won the contract to supply lithium-ion batteries for the 40 mile range, pricey golf cart performance matching Chevrolet Volt. The aforesaid CEO does not, of course, want to take note of the fact that the development of "advanced" nickel metal hydride batteries has continued even beyond their "primitive" use in the hybrids mass produced and sold as the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Honda Insight to name the most prominent. These so-called "primitive" batteries have a record of reliability, durability, overall life, and recyclability that is second to none. In addition their pricing has steadily dropped(!) since their introduction.

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

The Potential For An Electrified Future For Ford Depends On Lanthanum and Lithium The Supply Of Which To Ford, In The Quantities Required, of Neither Of Which Is Assured.

March 9, 2009

Analysis of:Ford CEO Mullaly expects "major portion" of Fords will be electric within a decade | www.autoblog.com

The CEO of the Ford Motor Company doesn't seem to worry about supply or value chain dynamics for the critical raw materials for the batteries or the electric motors that his company, Ford, would need its suppliers to have access to in order for Ford's future to be electrified

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

The absurd economics of the Chevrolet Volt Have Now Been Addressed By Carnegie Mellon University's Learned Professors. When Will GM's Management Do The Same?

March 6, 2009

Analysis of:Does GM's Volt Make Sense? | www.technologyreview.com

For the US Federal Government to bailout GM's current business model is a futile exercise in welfare state economics. There is no hope of success if GM's flawed "public relations" driven business model is not terminated and replaced.

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

Braking Wind: Where's the Neodymium Going To Come from?

March 4, 2009

Analysis of:Top wind-turbine firms: U.S. parts makers needed | www.freep.com

It has been estimated that to build the latest and most efficient one megawatt capacity wind turbine powered electric generator requires one ton of the rare earth metal neodymium for use in a permanent magnet made from the alloy neodymium-iron-boron. The total amount of neodymium produced annually in the USA is at most 600 tons, and all of it is used already to build nd-fe-b magnets for various applications. The current US installed capacity for electricity generation is 1,000 gigawatts (a gigawatt is 1000 megawatts), of which 0.6%, 6 gigawatts, is generated from wind turbines. The global annual production of neodymium, essentially all of which is mined in China, is today at an all time historical high of 26,500 metric tons.

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

General Motors No Longer Has The Capacity To Develop Or Follow A New Business Model Based On Alternate Energy Powered Vehicles, So Why Prolong Its Agony?

March 4, 2009

Analysis of:General Motors Hybrid Blitz halted by Lack of Batteries, Electric Motors | blogs.internetautoguide.com

The foolish article that I am analyzing here says that GM's only problem now is a shortage of batteries and electric (I assume, drive train) motors. The author's answer is simple: GM must build its own batteries and electric motors. The fact that such a resolution of GM's problems is impossible tells everyone except this author that GM is finished as an industry leading vehicle maker.

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

The Non-Silicon "Solar" Bubble May Be Popping: Reality Finally Catches Up With Thin Film Photovoltaic Solar Cells

March 3, 2009

Analysis of:Solar Panel Drops to $1 per Watt: Is this a Milestone or the Bottom for Silicon-Based Panels? | www.popularmechanics.com

There are two factors, which present obstacles that must be overcome if solar energy conversion is ever to be practical and widespread:   1. The limitations on the availability and/or production of the natural resources needed to manufacture the best currently known technologies, and 2. The comparative economics of "solar" energy conversion and all other alternate energy conversion technologies.

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

While Most Politicians Speak One Thing and Do Another, The Alternative Energy Is Still in Need

March 2, 2009

Analysis of:Capital power plant dims clean energy hopes | news.yahoo.com

Alternative Energy is expensive today and needs serious attention. New standards to be enforced by the federal government could create the alternative energy industry, require alternative energy to be present at new and renovated commercial and residential dwellings, where it is economically viable. New dwellings, warehouses need to be equipped with some form of alterntative energy to begin with.

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

Fiscal lithium has now overwhelmed electrochemical lithium as a driver for the electrification of private passenger carrying vehicles.

March 2, 2009

Analysis of:Study Finds That Cars With Large Lithium-Ion Batteries Don't Provide the Best Value | www.allcarselectric.com

The economic meltdown has now exposed the plug-in lithium battery as a power train energy storage device to be far too early in its development and testing to be worth the risk for private capital. This doesn't mean that it should be developed by taxpayer generated funds; it means that we should step back and see just how we should allocate our resources of money, time, and people.

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

The Real Effect of Bankruptcy Talk On GM Sales. It Is GM, Itself, That Can't Get Credit! The Poor Market For Electrified Cars As Measured By Iron V8 Engine Blocks Poured By General Motors.

February 23, 2009

Analysis of:The Electric Car Returns (and This Time It’s Personal) | commongroundmag.com

General Motors sole remaining iron foundry in Defiance, Ohio, is having two problems: 1. It is having difficulty meeting expanded production schedules for vehicles the production of which is supposedly tanking, and one emblamatic reason is that 2. Its suppliers of pig iron, the necessary raw material, won't give it credit.

Jack LiftonCo-founder and DirectorTechnology Metals Research, LLC

GM's Management Is Almost Restructured Already. It Just Needs Rick Wagoner To Leave

February 19, 2009

Analysis of:Reactions to Automakers’ Survival Plans | wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

Bob Lutz, A "car Guy" has now resigned as Vice Chairman and product "czar" of General Motors. He has already been replaced by a first class "car guy," more savvy than Lutz, Tom Stephens. Rick Wagoner, a finance guy whose best days are far in the past brought Fritz Henderson in as a finance guy whose best days may well be ahead of him. If the clueless politicians and their Wall Street toadies don't interfere then GM will shortly have a finance guy, Hendersen as CEO and a "car guy," Stephens as his partner to make a try at guiding GM out of the mess that it and the politicians have made of it during the last 25 years and more.

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