CAR WARRIORS: ELECTRIC CARS BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

Friday, September 12, 2014

ELECTRIC CARS BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

The Tesla Model S may be the darling of the EV world, but it's currently under investigation by federal auto-safety regulators after multiple fires involving the 60- or 85-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that powers the car.

The battery pack can send the S flying to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds (in the top-of-the-line Performance variant) by taking advantage of the beneficial qualities of lithium, a relatively lightweight material that can release a lot of energy quickly. But because the material is so reactive, lithium-ion batteries need to be heavily protected to avoid explosions. That drives up the cost of manufacturing and adds around 500 pounds to the vehicle, reducing the number of miles it can travel between charges. And even then, the battery may still overheat and catch fire, which is why researchers are working fast and furiously on new electric-car-battery technology—with a little help from the U.S government.

This past summer the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E, awarded $36 million in funding to researchers across the country with proposals for redesigning EV batteries. The 22 funded projects represent some of the best hopes for a safe, low-cost, efficient electric vehicle.

One of the people searching for a better alternative to the lithium-ion battery is Michael Fetcenko, a chemical engineer with BASF, the German corporation that owns the license to the technology behind nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. Those batteries are currently used in gas-electric hybrids, but Fetcenko and his team are using an ARPA-E grant to explore whether NiMH chemistry could be applied to purely electric vehicles as well.

The key is to both lower the cost and increase the energy density of the NiMH battery. Right now, a NiMH battery has an energy density of 1 kilowatt-hour. But in order to be a viable replacement for lithium-ion batteries, BASF has to find a way to boost the energy density up to 30 to 50 kilowatt-hours.

One way to do this would be to find a replacement for some of the battery's most important materials: rare earth elements. Rare earth elements are a set of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table, so named not because they are truly rare (one of them, cerium, is as abundant as copper) but because they are found in ores that are expensive to mine and process. Rare earth elements are "the workhorse" of the NiMH battery, supplying half of the reaction necessary for the battery to produce energy, Fetcenko says. But rare earths are limited in their ability to store energy, and because they have to be imported from China, their cost can be volatile and their supply uncertain.

So, BASF is looking to develop metal hydride alloys using low-cost metals for use in the NiMH battery. Fetcenko thinks they can improve the NiMH-battery chemistry and make the new batteries cheaper and more efficient. But for a pure-EV battery, lithium still has the advantage over NiMH because it's considerably lighter.

In a lithium-ion battery, lithium ions travel from the lithium oxide anode to a carbon-based cathode through an organic electrolyte. But a zinc-air battery uses air as its cathode. This means EnZinc can pack more zinc anode material into the battery to achieve a greater energy density. Zinc is also a benign substance—its byproduct in a battery is zinc oxide, the main ingredient in sunscreen. Add in the fact that the U.S is the third largest producer of zinc in the world and you have the makings of a safe, low-cost, high-energy battery.

Not everyone is looking for a replacement for the lithium-ion battery. Some researchers are approaching the challenge as if it were a giant jigsaw puzzle, focusing on improving just one aspect of the battery. For example, Gabriel Veith and his team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee are trying to cut the weight of the protective system around the battery.

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KNOWING ABOUT YOUR POWER-TRAIN WARRANITY

A powertrain warranty is a form of assurance offered by the manufacturer of an automobile. When a consumer purchases a vehicle, at the time of sale, he or she will be given a powertrain warranty, which will cover all or part of the powertrain of the underlying automobile. When a mechanical problem occurs to the powertrain the costs associated with repair or replacement are covered in the powertrain warranty—the manufacturer or dealer whole sold the automobile will pay to have the car fixed. That being said, what parts are covered and the extent of the repayment associated with fixing the car will vary greatly based on the powertrain warranty offered.

Depending on the manufacturer, a powertrain warranty will provide different forms of coverage based on interpretative differences; for example, one manufacturer’s definition of an engine can be referred to as a ‘long block’, meaning the engine, as well as everything attached to it cannot be removed. Another definition of an engine can be a “short block” meaning only part of the engine—typically the piece below cylinder head—cannot be removed. As a result, the coverage abilities will vary between these two warranties if the engine proved to be faulty.

In addition to the engine, the type of automobile will necessitate different variables within the powertrain warranty. For example, if you purchased a manual transmission vehicle, the warranty may exclude repairs or replacements for important pieces, such as the clutch—an extended warranty for a manual transmission will typically only provide coverage for the driveshaft and the axles.

A powertrain warranty will last for a certain number of years or for a maximum number of miles. In most instances, the powertrain warranty will last longer than a typical car warranty; the basic powertrain warranty is offered as a 10 year or 100,000 mile warranty, or whichever comes first.

Other Warranites Usually available to car buyers:

Basic: Also known as "bumper-to-bumper" coverage, this is the general coverage that would pay to repair defects in factory-installed parts. Tires are not typically included because they're usually covered under a separate tire manufacturer warranty.

Corrosion: Covers rust that causes holes in sheet metal in parts such as the doors or side panels.

Roadside assistance: Provides help with towing and tire-changing if the car breaks down while traveling.

It's best to check with dealers for specifics, but here is a list of seven top auto companies that offer among the best car warranties, despite the fact that many are rated safe cars by independent research firms.

Car Insurance Tips

Find out what’s covered and what isn’t. Get your quote in writing and confirm the accuracy of each vehicle and driver you are insuring, as well as the coverages you requested. Ask about free, value-added features, such as emergency roadside assistance. Check to see if repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own your car, and find out what kind of payment options are available.

To see if you’re getting credit where credit is due, it's a good idea to find out all the discounts available to you. Some simple ways to save money on your auto insurance include maintaining a clean driving record, being a good student and the inclusion of certain safety features when buying a new car can save you money on your policy.

Your state sets forth the minimum liability coverage you must maintain, as mentioned above. But these are just the legal minimums and might not give you the coverage you need. You'll have to decide what you want to buy beyond these minimums. Keep in mind that you are looking to find the balance between having adequate coverage and overpaying.

According to Consumer Reports, a general guideline for adequate bodily injury liability limits is $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, plus $100,000 for property damage. These amounts are what your insurer will pay to someone you are in an accident with. For uninsured motorist coverage, you should get the same amount as for bodily injury liability, as this covers your medical costs when someone who is not insured hits you.

Auto insurance tip #1
Understand why you need auto insurance
In short, you need car insurance to protect your car, yourself and your passengers. You also protect any assets, like your home and savings, as well as comply with state law.

Auto insurance tip #2
Know your current coverages-but be willing to adjust
Use your current coverages and limits as a starting point; you can refer to your declarations page for this information. Then, adjust your coverages as necessary to match your lifestyle-which might be different than it was when you first bought the policy.

For example, if your teenager starts driving next month, you might consider adding him or her to your policy now. Or, if you just bought a new car, you might choose loan/lease payoff coverage, so that if your car is stolen or declared a total loss, you'll have help paying off your loan or lease.

Auto insurance tip #3
Decide what you want to protect, then choose your coverages

Auto insurance tip #4
Use deductibles to your advantage
Your deductible is what you agree to pay out of pocket when you use your car insurance. In general, the higher you set your deductible, the less you'll pay for your policy. And conversely, if you set your deductible low, you'll pay more for your policy, but less when you have a claim.

Auto insurance tip #5
Know that certain things affect your rate
Insurance companies evaluate a variety of things when they calculate your rate, from your driving record to where you live and how many miles you drive on average. Keep this in mind when you see your rate.

More alternatives:

Raise your comprehensive and collision deductibles to at least $1,000, which lowers your premiums and prevents you from filing small claims that could jeopardize a claims-free discount. Add some more money to your emergency fund so you’ll have the cash to pay the deductible if anyone in your family does have an accident.

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage entirely on older cars that are worth little more than the deductible. You may be paying more in premiums than you could ever get back from the insurer, even if the car is totaled.

Tell your insurer if your child goes away to college. If your child goes to school more than 100 miles away and does not use the car, you can usually get a big break on your premiums but still have coverage when he or she comes home for vacation.

Ask about other discounts for teenage drivers. Some insurers offer discounts for driver-safety programs, cutting costs if the kids take a special class, watch a DVD, or read a driver-safety book and take a test. Ask your insurer what your kid needs to do to qualify.

Make the most of multi-policy discounts. You’ll usually get a break on your auto insurance and your homeowners insurance if you keep both policies with the same company. You may get an additional discount if you include an umbrella policy, which provides extra liability coverage beyond your auto-insurance limits and can be particularly valuable when you have a teenage driver.

Some insurers offer much better deals than others for teenage drivers, so it’s important to compare costs. The insurance company that offered the best rate for you and your spouse may have some of the highest rates when you add a teenage boy to the policy - and it’s almost always better to add the child to your policy rather than have him get his own policy.

You can get price quotes from several online insurance companies like Progressive or AllState or get personalized service from an independent insurance agent who works with many companies. You may not want to switch from a longtime insurer just to save a few dollars, however, because your current company may be less likely to raise your rate or drop you if your child has an accident. If you stay with the insurance company you currently have there more room for forgiveness and benefits of such various programs. Also keep in mind that if you have been getting a multi-policy discount, your homeowners-insurance rate might rise if you take your auto-insurance business elsewhere.

One thing you don’t want to do in an attempt to reduce your premiums is skimp on liability coverage. recommends liability limits of at least $250,000 per person, $500,000 per accident and $100,000 for property damage or a policy with a “combined single limit” of $500,000, when available, which does not limit the coverage to $250,000 per person involved in the accident. Young drivers are more likely to have accidents, and lowering your liability limits could leave you on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in expenses if your child does hit another car or injure someone.

CAR WARRIORS

Friday, September 12, 2014

ELECTRIC CARS BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

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