Pegging down future automobile product plans is hard enough in a normal economy. With the current state of affairs, it's like grabbing a snowflake with a heated fork. It's damn hard and you have to start over as soon as you think you got it figured out. Still, we were curious about what Chrysler's bankruptcy and partnership with Fiat might mean for cars like the Circuit EV and companies like A123 Systems, which is slated to supply batteries for Chrysler's electric vehicle lineup.

Reuters says that "the sum of Fiat and Chrysler's parts does not amount to the kind of electric vehicle powerhouse that Renault and Nissan are trying to build." Still, Chrysler's ENVI project could get a big boost from Fiat's smaller, lighter vehicles - Alfa Romeo and Cinquecento - that could make the jump across the pond. One J.D. Power and Associates powertrain analyst told Reuters that a bankruptcy judge might just shut ENVI down. So there's that.

The same analyst thinks that A123 will be fine if they find another customer. That's pretty close to a truism. A123 Systems did not draw up a statement in response to the Chrysler bankruptcy.

Whatever happens, a delay in Chrysler's previously-announced schedule for 2010 models is a sure thing. Chrysler said as much (subs req'd) in their bankruptcy filing earlier this week. 2011 models might also be affected, depending on how the bankruptcy affects plant closures and suppliers.


[Source: Reuters, Automotive News (subs req'd)]

With the closing of the latest round of private fund raising, Massachusetts-based A123 Systems now has an extra $69 million in the bank. General Electric put up $15 million of that amount, bringing its ownership stake in the advanced battery startup to more than 10 percent, the single largest shareholding. This latest funding round comes just one week after Chrysler announced that A123 Systems would be its first primary supplier of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles. China's SAIC also awarded A123 a development and supply contract.

A123 Systems is still waiting for an answer from federal and state governments on how much, if any, money it will get through the ATVM loan program and stimulus funds for green technology projects. In the meantime, A123 is moving ahead with plans to build a factory in Michigan that will produce automotive lithium ion cells and modules. The A123 press release is after the jump.

[Source: A123 Systems]

Earlier this week, Chrysler confirmed it would be using battery packs supplied by A123, an American company that specializes in high-tech lithium ion battery technology, to power future electric vehicles as part of its ENVI program. To make this deal work out, A123 will build an assembly plant somewhere near the Motor City in Michigan. This proposed plant would eventually employ 14,000 people and have the capacity to supply 5 million hybrid vehicles or half a million battery electric vehicles.

Of course, a plant such as this doesn't come cheap, and A123 is reportedly planning to launch in more than one location. To help defray a sizable portion of the $2.4 billion or so it would cost to get these plants built, the battery maker has applied for $1.84 billion in loans from the Department of Energy. Today, though, A123 confirmed that at least one plant will be built in Michigan regardless of whether or not its loan application is approved. Currently, A123 has plants in Massachusetts, South Korea and China.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Chrysler has just announced that it has signed an official agreement to use battery packs from A123 in its planned electric vehicles and extended-range electric vehicles. This isn't a shocking revelation by any means, considering that the ENVI vehicles have been fitted with cells from A123 all along. The automaker highlights the fact that A123 is an American company – an important bit of information for a country that's looking to reduce its dependence on foreign sources of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A123 has announced plans to build a plant in Michigan that would manufacture the Nanophosphate lithium ion prismatic battery cells, modules, and battery packs for use in Chrysler's eco-friendly vehicles. We expect the first Chrysler ENVI vehicle to be the Dodge Circuit, which is scheduled for a 2010 introduction. Chrysler has also shown electric versions of its current minivan platform along with the Wrangler and Patriot from Jeep. Click past the break for the full press release.


[Source: Chrysler]

Tier 1 auto parts supplier Delphi, which emerged as an offshoot of General Motors over a decade ago, has announced that it will supply hybrid powertrain components to Chinese automaker Shanghai Auto, better known as SAIC. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, considering that SAIC is GM's official partner for the Chinese market and Delphi is already the supplier that The General uses for its mild hybrid powertrain.

More interesting is the tie-up with A123 Systems, makers of high-tech lithium ion batteries and one of the companies that was vying for the Chevy Volt's battery contract. Delphi and A123 are said to be working on air-cooled lithium ion battery packs for use in automotive applications for the Chinese market.

SAIC will develop the software that controls the hybrid components and will integrate the technology into its line of vehicles. Hopefully, these new energy storage systems will make their way outside China and into the United States.

[Source: Inside Line]

One definition of the word elegant is "to be gracefully concise and simple." In the future, the dictionary just might include the GreenWheel as a product that illustrates this principle perfectly. From the MIT Smartcities team that gave us the stackable cars concept and the RoboScooter (still a go), comes a wheel that can turn an ordinary bicycle into a very desirable electric one in an easy, cost effective manner. Enclosing a motor, A123 Systems batteries and a generator into a small aluminum pancake hub, the GreenWheel can give you up to 25 miles of propulsion, or much more if you don't mind pedaling. Unlike conversions kits from the past, it forgoes running wires the length of your bike by incorporating the magic of bluetooth to control the twist-throttle.

Over a dozen different configurations of the GreenWheel are scheduled to be tried and tested by a variety of cyclists this spring. Once the the team analyzes their feedback, an ultimate configuration of power, speed and cost will be settled on and mass production will get under way. With an estimated cost of "several hundred dollars," they better plan on making a lot of them since not only are they a wonderful "solution" for several cities and ridesharing programs already showing interest, but in a world-economy that can't afford to buy cars the way they used to, the GreenWheel should have a bright future.

[Source: MSNBC]

A123 Systems announced today that it has applied for $1.84 billion in loans from the Department of Energy to help contribute to the $2.3 billion required to pay for the construction of battery plants in the United States. In what should be good news for Michigan, the first of the facilities A123 is planning would be located there. If A123 gets the funds, it plans to have enough cell manufacturing capacity in place by 2013 to support 5 million hybrid vehicles or half a million battery electric vehicles. The factories would produce employ 14,000 people when fully operational.

A123 claims to be working with seven different automakers right now on 19 different vehicle programs. Those include General Motors for the plug-in hybrid Saturn Vue and the Chevy Volt and Chrysler with its electric programs through its ENVI division. A123 is also working with Better Place on its charging and battery swap network programs. There's no word so far on when a decision on the application might be made or construction might start.

[Source: A123 Systems, Detroit Free Press]

As we reported a few months back, all signs point to Compact Power, a subsidiary of LG Chem, being awarded the big initial battery contract for the upcoming Chevy Volt. Why? There are some obvious reasons, including that Compact Power was able to get its battery packs to the General a full two months before A123 fulfilled its end of the bargain, but there could be more to it than that, and Technology Review is postulating on some possible reasons. Could it be that A123's units were more expensive, despite not requiring as much safety hardware? That's one scenario to consider. Another is that, while A123's batteries would likely have lasted longer, there was no provision from GM to make use of that possibility in the form of a lower output pack. In any case, the official announcement awarding the contract to LG is expected before the end of the year and could be made as early as this week at the LA Auto Show. This would be something we'd Twitter to get the news out as we are writing the post, btw.


[Source: Technology Review]

Click above for high-res gallery of Making Green Cool Zone cars from SEMA

There were a lot of crazy, over-the-top and outrageous vehicles at SEMA again this year. Some of those vehicles were boosted, blinged, airbrushed and lifted to within an inch of their lives. Crazy lift kits, fat tires, superchargers and turbos, horsepower levels of 400, 650, 750 and even well above 1,000 were splashed across their banners for all to see. And this was just in the show's "Making Green Cool Zone." It was filled with cars, trucks, motorcycles and products aimed at proving green can be fun.

The cars in particular were a great example of that theory. We saw the "Mean Green" '68 Camaro built by OPM Customs that is set to challenge a land speed record powered by E98. The car is made of recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible and should be able to crack 225 mph. Right next to it was the LK Motorsports "Green Rod," a '33 Ford hot rod powered by a GEOD assisted Ford Racing 4.6L DOHC crate motor. The Green Energy On Demand system comes from Assisted Energy and consists of a small, self-contained hydrogen-on-demand unit. Even producing 400+ HP, the car can return better than 30 mpg.

On the other side of the trucks we spotted an old favorite, the HP2g Mustang, a Progressive Automotive X Prize contender that produces 400 HP as well, but can return up to 110 MPGe. If you happen to be more of a Bow-Tie fan, there was the "Bio Rocket," a biodiesel '65 Impala built by Galpin Auto Sports and unveiled by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on a special Earth Day episode of "Pimp My Ride." Corvette fans had their choice of a 750-hp C6 Corvette with the innovative rear-mounted STS Turbo setup, or the soon-to-be-defunct ALMS GT1-winning C6.R Vette that races on cellulosic E85.

There were also a trio of Priuses, including a wild "Zimbra" custom by Batmobile and Batsmart creator George Barris. Like the Barris Prius, the VIP Auto Salon one on display was more about improving the looks and performance of the Prius than about increasing economy, per se, but the M.i.O +81 prECiOus wheel upgrades promised lighter weight and improved handling and efficiency over the OEM units. The last Prius was the Hymotion model that promised optimized performance and 100+ MPGe thanks to its A123 Systems L5 Nanophosphate Lithium Ion plug-in conversion hybrid powerpack.


Photos copyright ©2008 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

A123 Systems may (repeat, may) have lost out on being the initial supplier of Chevy Volt batteries but that doesn't mean they are down and out. In fact, it appears that their lithium-iron-phosphate batteries will have energy storage duties for the electric cars of Better Place. Or at least some of the cars. A123 recently received an undisclosed amount of investment from Ofer Holdings Group which controls Better Place backer, Israel Corp. Idan Ofer, who is chairman of both Israel Corp. and Better Place made the announcement in Australia during a press conference for the launch of Better Place operations there. Got all that? Good, because it doesn't get much less complicated.

Better Place is reportedly about to import 10 family-type cars from the U.S. to be used as sales demonstration vehicles and conduct various sorts of testing and training with. Although Ofer Holdings has a joint venture with China's Chery Automobiles Co. that will supply cars for the Israeli market, there is a possibility these particular cars might come from Chrysler or Chevrolet. At least according to "industry sources" cited in a Globes article. There is also a possibility that cars could come to the U.S. from Renault in Europe and have electric drivetrains installed before being sent off to Israel. Renault is a partner with Better Place as well. It seems that the only thing known for sure is what Better Place is quoted as saying. "The cars slated for tests in Israel are being assembled in the US and will arrive in Israel soon." We'll let you know what they're assembling as soon as we find out ourselves.

[Source: Globes / BusinessWeek]