Slow Start for Lithium-ion Hybrids
Could it be that the Japanese car companies have such complete control of the U.S. market that they are trying to keep the American producers alive because they can’t handle all the business they would get if GM/Ford/Chrysler go under? And could it be that the Japanese think there is much more mileage left to go in the current hybrid technology that uses NiMH (nickel-metal-hydride) batteries before any transition to Lithium-ion happens?
Those are two of many interesting views of reality contained in an essay by Jack Lifton that was posted on ResourceInvestor.Com and forwarded to me by my Australian reader, P.W. Interestingly, when you think about it, the only new lithium-ion powered vehicle announced so far by a major car company with a scheduled intro date is the GM Volt. Since (GM) is in the critical care unit, and since the Volt is an experimental vehicle that is acknowledged to be a money-looser for a while, that’s not exactly a booming endorsement of lithium-ion technology.
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