Altairnano and Boshart to Develop Prototype Li-ion Electric Vehicle
09 March 2006
Altair Nanotechnologies and Boshart Engineering have entered into a two-year Joint Development Agreement for the design and engineering of a prototype full-speed electric vehicle (EV) to be powered by an Altairnano rechargeable advanced lithium ion battery system.
The Altairnano-Boshart EV will showcase both companies’ respective technologies: Altairnano’s battery technology and Boshart Engineering’s vehicle integration and electric vehicle conversions. Boshart has years of experience in the vehicle testing industry, including EV projects, and has worked with domestic and foreign automotive manufacturers.
The Altairnano-Boshart EV program is expected to include long distance drives at conventional highway speeds, testing the EV’s endurance in high altitudes and extreme weather conditions. Road testing of the EV is expected to begin by the fourth quarter of 2006.
Boshart Engineering is pleased to be collaborating with Altairnano in the development of this all-electric vehicle. The Altairnano battery technology shows strong promise to enable not only the electric and hybrid vehicle industry, but the complete ground mobility industry in total.
—Boshart President Ken Boshart
Altairnano also recently announced that it and Electro Energy have entered into a four-year Joint Development Agreement for the design, manufacture and marketing of high-power lithium-ion batteries and battery systems. (Earlier post.)
What I like very much:
Being able to drive at city and highway speeds in electric mode; being probably a plug in electric; that it will have a range of say 300 miles; plus, all the other benefits of an electric vehicle!
What I don't think I like: Arriving at the end of my 300 mile trip, looking to plug-in at the motel; having more horsepower than I need. For me, size/luxury wise, anything from the Toyota Prius to the Camry would be great.
Don't take this as being negative; I just want them to succeed! I'm anxiously awaiting more details.
Posted by: George | 09 March 2006 at 01:42 PM
California should have stuck to its guns when they initially decided to require zero emissions, effectively mandating an electric vehicle. Toyota needs to step up, implement a PHEV and then followup with an all electric vehicle. I fear that these little companies putting together prototypes gets us nowhere in any kind of reasonable time frame.
I have a Prius. A Prius, whether PHEV or all electric would be more than adequate.
What are these big companies afraid of?
Posted by: t | 09 March 2006 at 02:18 PM
I have heard that the reason GM EV1 didnt go through was the fact that the cars never needed any repair which is where these Big Co's and Dealers make alot of money in replacement parts or even new cars. They are also heavily invested in gas companies. Its no wonder that Toyota and Honda are taking over the market. Alot of people "babyboomers" are hippies from the 60's. There was even a waiting list of 5000 plus the existing leased fleet of 1500 EV1's. Greed will eventully ruin the american automakers. We will see EV's again but from Asia.
Posted by: Nuclear Waste. Heard of it? | 09 March 2006 at 04:04 PM
The EV1 was a phenomenal car, especially for its time...maybe too phenomenal? Today's technology would only make it better.
Posted by: cs1992 | 10 March 2006 at 02:37 AM
I don't think they would kill a product because it doesn't break down. I am almost sure that the real reason is status quo. Basically GM invested a huge amount of money in engine factories, transmission factories and all other equipment needed to produce petro car. Those factories need to return money. You cannot simply make them switch to producing electric motors. Other reasons, GM produces its own petro engines, while they would need to buy electric engines , bateries, inverters etc. It simply was a cost analysis reason of killing that project.
Posted by: W2 | 10 March 2006 at 06:28 AM
Don't see why the US car manufacturers could not progressively switch from ICE vehicles to Hybrids, PHEVs and EVs. The Japanese and Chinese firms will do it and our Big Three may not have a choice if they want to survive. GE is going from Jet turbines to Wind turbines and making money doing it. What is the matter with our car companies? The future belongs to (PHEVs and EVs) and clean (Wind and Solar) power generation. Hydrogene???..... not really required for on-road vehicles. Using the existing electrical infrastrcuture makes more sense.
Posted by: Harvey D | 10 March 2006 at 06:43 AM
IIRC, GM invented the neodymium-iron-boron magnet material; they could make their own motors if they wanted to.
The problem is probably more along the lines of chimney management; if you increase the importance of motors and decrease engines and/or radically simplify transmissions, it means a big power shift inside the company and nobody at the top will make it happen. GM does little things like the belt-alternator-starter because it threatens nobody's relative position; Toyota will eat the same amount of all their lunches.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 10 March 2006 at 05:52 PM
The most diffcult part for the nanotitinate spinel electrode battery operated car will be the charge locations along our hyways. I would hope the oil companys would respond at their stations as most are on main grids, however i doubt it with out pressure from the public over many years and wars.
Posted by: larry cal tec | 11 April 2006 at 12:30 PM
As you can see from my homepages I'm inventing the solution to the global emmissions by vehicles world wide.
All I need is someone to come up with some real cash and My SPss ATV will be released from it's dormant R&D into prototype stages and show the world the new Wheel - Form which incorperates a frictionless drive within each and every wheel housing, no external motors required and for those long trips just add hydrogen fuel cells.
This option encompasses Transportation, Electrification and Communication Global Network Response within one solution.
For further information write to.
Robbie Kleij
innovative designs for the 2000 - 2050
Posted by: Robbie Kleij | 30 May 2006 at 03:02 AM
The California Zero Emision law was a foolish attempt to produce a vehicle whose technology was not yet viable. Anyone can build an electric car. The problem is that no one has been able to build a practical battery that can come anywhere near meeting the needs of drivers. Altair Nanotechnologies has built a revolutionary new battery and has had no problem finding a company to engineer vehicles. The fallacy that only one of the major automakers can build an electric car is thus disposed of. It was shown false by Tesla's new sports car, which unfortunately, uses the old lithion ion batteries that cost a small fortune - $20,000 for 5 year's worth of batteries and long recharge times and a range of only 250 miles. The Tesla is now obsolete unless it uses the newly developed revolutionary (lasts 25 years, recharges in 10 minutes, outputs power four times as fast, unaffected by extreme temperatures) Altair nanoSafe lithion ion batteries. This is the battery that has all the characterisitics that are
required to make a practical electric car, or plug-in hybrid (which is much more cost effective). And California's Zero Emission Law had absolutely nothing to do with its development.
Posted by: Kent beuchert | 21 September 2006 at 08:42 AM