At EVS23, AutoblogGreen had a chance to speak with the chairman of Ener1, Inc., Charles Gassenheimer, about his company's batteries and the future of Enerdel's lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications. He told us then that "We think 2008 is going to be a very exciting year for us." Now we know one reason why.
Yesterday, Gassenheimer told Fox Business News that his company's batteries will be on the market by the end of 2008. From what we know so far, it's likely that Th!nk will have the first vehicles featuring an Ener1 lithium ion battery inside (see links below).
According to a press release sent out by Ener1, here are Gassenheimer's comments to Fox:
Our batteries have already been tested by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium, which is General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. We are the only battery company today using this Lithium-ion technology, which has met or exceeded all of the Big Three's requirements, especially and most importantly best-in-class in safety. We have already announced a commercial contract with Think Electric Vehicle in Norway. It's the largest electric vehicle company in Europe. You will see our batteries in their cars by the end of 2008 (read the rest after the jump).
In the race to bring lithium-ion to the masses, Ener1 is not waiting around. Now, let's see what happens when these cars are on the road, preferably with us in the driver's seat.
Yesterday, Gassenheimer told Fox Business News that his company's batteries will be on the market by the end of 2008. From what we know so far, it's likely that Th!nk will have the first vehicles featuring an Ener1 lithium ion battery inside (see links below).
According to a press release sent out by Ener1, here are Gassenheimer's comments to Fox:
Our batteries have already been tested by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium, which is General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. We are the only battery company today using this Lithium-ion technology, which has met or exceeded all of the Big Three's requirements, especially and most importantly best-in-class in safety. We have already announced a commercial contract with Think Electric Vehicle in Norway. It's the largest electric vehicle company in Europe. You will see our batteries in their cars by the end of 2008 (read the rest after the jump).
In the race to bring lithium-ion to the masses, Ener1 is not waiting around. Now, let's see what happens when these cars are on the road, preferably with us in the driver's seat.
Related:
- Ener1 first to integrate lithium-ion battery into HEV
- Ener1 shuffles management in preparation of battery commercialization
- Everything you ever wanted to know about Ener1's batteries
- Ener1 and Th!nk sign the largest contract for lithium-ion batteries in automotive history
Dec 12, 2007 06:00 ET
Ener1, Inc. Chairman Tells Fox Business News Company's Lithium-ion Battery Will Be in Cars by End of '08
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Appearing Tuesday on Fox Business News, Charles Gassenheimer, chairman of Ener1, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: ENEI) , an alternative energy company, said that the company will bring its automotive Lithium-ion battery to market by the end of 2008.
"Our batteries have already been tested by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium, which is General Motors, Ford and Chrysler," Mr. Gassenheimer told viewers of the Fox morning broadcast "CEO Corner." "We are the only battery company today using this Lithium-ion technology, which has met or exceeded all of the Big Three's requirements, especially and most importantly best-in-class in safety."
"We have already announced a commercial contract with Think Electric Vehicle in Norway," Gassenheimer added, referring to a $70 million development and supply agreement signed in October. "It's the largest electric vehicle company in Europe. You will see our batteries in their cars by the end of 2008." the Ener1 chairman told interviewer Alexis Glick.
Mr. Gassenheimer said that the size of the market for Lithium-ion power sources for electrical transportation, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric vehicles will burgeon in the next decade. The new technology provides consumers an immediate positive return on investment in purchasing a hybrid electric vehicle, while the nickel metal hydride batteries currently in use require a payback period of seven to ten years to cover the hybrid premium.
"This is really a supply problem," Mr. Gassenheimer commented to Fox, adding that the few U.S. companies currently involved in manufacturing Lithium-ion automotive batteries, rather than competing directly against each other, are collectively building a new industry. He says that Japanese automaker Toyota now accounts for 90 percent of the battery market for electrical transportation and that U.S. industry must rapidly catch up or risk ceding a major share of the new car market to foreign carmakers.
The Ener1 chairman notes that energy legislation now moving through Congress that would mandate a minimum 35-mpg standard in new cars has provided strong impetus to American carmakers to adopt more fuel-efficient technologies.
"Much of the world now, including Detroit, grasps that more efficient internal combustion engines and biofuels such as ethanol will not bring about the major environmental improvements and freedom from foreign oil that the times demand," Mr. Gassenheimer said. "That the Lithium-ion battery is the Holy Grail is now a given, and we and others have proven that it's a fully realizable technology for revolutionizing automotive transportation."
About Ener1, Inc.
Ener1, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: ENEI) is an alternative energy technology company that is developing 1) lithium ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) at its 80.5% owned EnerDel subsidiary through corporate ventures and strategic partnerships with Delphi, ITOCHU and EnerStruct, 2) commercial fuel cell products through its EnerFuel subsidiary, and 3) nanotechnology-based materials and manufacturing processes for batteries and other applications at its NanoEner subsidiary. For more information, visit http://www.ener1.com/ or call 954-556-4020.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 conveying management expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not necessarily limited to: the Company's ability to achieve the milestones upon which the funding from its controlling shareholder is conditioned; EnerDel's ability to succeed as a supplier of batteries to the hybrid electric vehicle and other markets; Ener1's ability to successfully develop and market proposed lithium battery, fuel cell and nanotechnology-based products and services; the degree of competition in the markets for lithium battery, fuel cell and nanotechnology-based products and services; Ener1's history of operating losses; EnerFuel's ability to complete the development of and sell the surveillance camera; the lack of operating history for the development stage Ener1 businesses; the need for additional capital; the dependency upon key personnel; and other risks detailed in filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements included in this release. Ener1 undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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