Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Panasonic to follow the Tesla model of laptop batteries in cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/report-panasonic-to-follow-the-tesla-model-of-laptop-batteries/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/report-panasonic-to-follow-the-tesla-model-of-laptop-batteries/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/report-panasonic-to-follow-the-tesla-model-of-laptop-batteries/#comments
Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the lithium ion battery technology that everyone expects to be at the heart of the upcoming generation of electric vehicles was initially used in consumer electronics devices, only one company so far has committed to using laptop-style cells. Tesla Motors builds a battery pack for the Roadster that consists of 6,831 cells of the type used in portable computers. Virtually every battery maker developing lithium ion for automotive applications is creating larger format cells that have what is referred to as a prismatic (flat rectangular) shape.

Interestingly, one company seems to be taking a different approach. Panasonic - which has a joint venture with Toyota to produce nickel metal hydride and lithium ion batteries for hybrid and plug-in vehicles - reportedly intends to produce automotive battery packs using laptop cells. The company claims to have developed a new method for connecting the cells which will bring the cost down by half compared to the larger format cells. The savings are claimed to come from using existing production facilities and tooling to produce cells.

However, critics suggest that while it may be true that producing cells on existing equipment will be cheaper than building new lines for prismatic ones, the quantity of cells required if EV sales approach projections over the next decade could quickly outpace this approach. Using larger format cells means far fewer interconnects are required and the complexity of building packs from the cells is greatly reduced. Because of the size of packs needed for car applications, the prismatic cells also provide greater density and improved thermal management.


Gallery: Jason Calacanis' Tesla Roadster


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Panasonic to follow the Tesla model of laptop batteries in cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic first showed off its HD-PLC system at CES in 2004 and, being car nuts, we totally ignored it. Other than letting all our gadgets talk to each other over a house's electrical lines, it did nothing for what we drive.

Now, Panasonic is announcing the ability of its PLC system to also communicate with that electric car charging in your garage. Officially, Panasonic is touting the technology in the name of security. The company claims that electric car owners can view video from an in-car camera to make sure their EV is charging safe and sound, while keeping tabs on the charging status of their cars from inside their home.

Unofficially, The Earth Times speculates that the system could also transfer music to the car's stereo, along with sending travel routes and movies to the in-car entertainment system. The setup could also include a command to adjust the seats for individual drivers.

HD-PLC Magazine says Panasonic's PLC has the potential to make electric cars lighter, replacing looms of wiring with a smaller, simpler, PLC-linked wiring system. We'll have to wait until Panasonic's press conference this week at CES for the official announcement.

[Source: The Earth Times]

CES 2009 preview: Panasonic connects your electric car to your house originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Tis the season to unveil new F1 cars, and following Ferrari's unveiling of the new F2008 and McLaren taking the wraps off its MP4/23, Toyota is next having debuted the TF108 at the team's headquarters in Cologne, Germany earlier today.

The TF108 departs from last year's TF107 primarily in two areas. First, Toyota lengthened the wheelbase to improve vehicle stability. (Ferrari made a similar design move last year with the F2007, the car with which they secured both world championship titles, but the Scuderia shrank it down again for the new F2008.) Secondly, the TF108 benefits from what Toyota says is a significantly improved aerodynamic package, an area in which last year's car was severely lacking. The TF108 also has to conform to new regulations imposed on the entire series, including further structural safety measures and the standardized ECU. Although engine development has been frozen by the FIA, the RVX-08 engine is mated to a new 7-speed sequential geabox.

Panasonic Toyota Racing desperately needs to find success behind the wheel of the TF108 next season, after the revelation that the bean counters in Japan have given the team two more seasons to turn things around... or else. We'll be watching closely to see how Jarno Trulli, returning for another season with Toyota, and Timo Glock, fresh from his title in GP2, will perform in the 2008 Formula One World Championship.

Follow the jump for a video from the launch, full press release and technical specifications on the TF108.

[Source: Toyota F1]

Gallery: Toyota TF108

Continue reading Toyota F1 pins its hopes on new TF108

Toyota F1 pins its hopes on new TF108 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's that time of the year again, as the Formula One season winds to a close and drivers line up for new contracts. After Ralf Schumacher's departure from the over-funded but under-achieving Toyota F1 team, Felipe Massa was rumored to be heading over while Fernando Alonso assumed his seat at Ferrari. With Alonso now headed back to Renault for next season and Massa likely to stay where he is, Toyota have reportedly signed Timo Glock (right) for next season to race alongside incumbent Jarno Truli.

Glock has floated in and out of F1 for the past few years. After working his way up the ranks and named Rookie of the Year in the Formula 3 Euroseries, Glock moved in to a race seat with Jordan F1 in 2004, scoring his first point in his first race (due to a technicality) at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2004. He then moved across the ocean to Champ Cars, and in his second race at the Montreal circuit scored a second place finish in his first season and was again named Rookie of the Year. Last year he moved to GP2, and took the title this year while simultaneously serving as a test driver for BMW Sauber, but was passed over for the race seat after Robert Kubica's crash... also at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Despite his experience, Glock is evidently still considered a rookie, which means Toyota can get away with paying him "only" $2 million a year in comparison to Ralf Schumacher's purported $19 million annual contract. Glock and Toyota are expected to officially sign after this season's closer in Brazil. Just don't be surprised if his new employers use Timo to promote their new JDM coincidentally-named cellphone, the Timo.

[Source: F1i.com]

Breaking: Toyota F1 to sign Timo Glock for Ralf Schumacher's seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fender guitars rock. Even the cheapies are easy to play and sound good in the right hands. Panasonic and Fender are teaming up to create an audio system that will be offered to auto manufacturers. Nigel and Slash have already been snagged by Volkswagen with their First Act package deal (buy a VW, they throw in the guitar that plugs into the car's audio system). We're guessing that the pitch for the Fender/Panasonic system will be along the same lines, though; and aimed at the younger demographic. The working partnership of Fender and Panasonic even trotted out Dick Dale at the NAIAS to promote their idea. Hey, in the right car, this could be magic. You could turn all that traffic-jam time into productive practice! Campers would no longer have to settle for singing "Blowin' In The Wind." With a guitar-enabled audio system, you could, as Bob Dylan told his band at Newport, "play f***ing loud."

[Source: Edmunds]

Striking a chord: Panasonic and Fender planning branded car audio system originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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