Battery Power - May/June 2012 - (Page 4)

editor’s choice Panasonic Corp. will supply lithium-ion battery cells for Ford Motor Company’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The upcoming models of the Ford Fusion Hybrid Electric and C-Max Hybrid Electric as well as the Ford Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids will use Panasonic battery cells in combination with a gasoline engine. With growing environmental concerns and escalating oil prices, demand for rechargeable batteries for ecofriendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly. Panasonic is building up its battery business to meet such demand. The company is already supplying nickelmetal hydride (Ni-MH) battery cells and systems for hybrid electric vehicles to a growing number of automotive manufacturers around the world, including Ford Motor Company as well as lithium-ion battery cells and systems for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. The lithium-ion battery supply agreement with Ford Motor Company builds on a long-term partnership between the two companies. Sanyo Electric Co.,Ltd , which was acquired by Panasonic last year, has been supplying Ni-MH battery systems for the Ford Escape hybrid vehicle since 2004. The company’s battery systems have been powering the Ford Escape Hybrid, and the company’s battery cells have been powering the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The partnership now expands to lithium-ion battery cells for the four Ford hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Battery cells are delivered in cell stack configuration to increase transportation efficiency and reliability. Panasonic to Supply Lithium-Ion Battery Cells for Ford Motor Company’s Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles Editor & Publisher • David Webster Director of Content • Shannon Given Associate Editors Nick Depperschmidt, Heather Krier News Editors • Jeremy Fleming, Jessi Albers, Sue Hannebrink, Laura Mayo, Scott Webster Manager of Administration Marsha Grillo Advertising, Sales and Marketing Jessi Albers, Director of Sales Jeremy Fleming, Account Executive Jennifer Graham, Marketing Assistant Julie Hammond, Production Manager Director of Support Services Marc Vang BATTERY POWER (ISSN #10923616) is published bi-monthly by Webcom Communications Corp., 7355 E. Orchard, #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111. A U.S. subscription is $58.00/ year and $72.00/year elsewhere. Single copies are $20 plus shipping. Back issues are available. Payment must be made in U.S. funds to process the order. Direct all subscription inquiries, orders and address changes to Fulfillment Services. Reprints/Photocopies: For requests contact Webcom Communications at 720-528-3770. © Copyright 2012 Webcom Communications Corp. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Requests for permission should be directed to the customer service manager. MIPI Alliance has announced a battery interface for mobile devices that improves consumer safety, battery performance and lessens the battery’s environmental impact. The single-wire communication interface is the first standard to address these key issues. Mobile device users can now look for smart batteries with longer lifetime, safe, environmentallyfriendly battery chemistry as well as increased safety through temperature monitoring and decreased risk of counterfeit products. Plus, members of the mobile device ecosystem, OEMs, chipset suppliers, IC suppliers and battery pack manufacturers, will benefit from a commonly accepted battery interface that saves design and manufacturing complexity, reduces chipset space and improves cost margins. According to industry analysts, the mobile device battery industry has expanded to at least 1.5 billion batteries produced per year. However, these batteries use many different, non-standard proprietary battery interfaces. This disparity has placed a significant burden on all members of the ecosystem. As advanced wireless networks including LTE and HSPA+ gain deployment, and smart phone functions require ever increasing processing power, the mobile device battery will become the weakest link in the mobile device. The MIPI battery interface specification will address many of these issues. The MIPI Battery Interface specification addresses several key issues, including battery life, environmental concerns, high capacity chemistries and consumer safety. Popular smart phones are known to have shorter battery life as they churn through large amounts of data and always-on applications. MIPI’s specification includes unified access to parameters, state monitoring and optimized charging events that improve functionality within the battery, thereby lengthening its life. These capabilities also enable battery pack manufacturers to quickly implement and adopt environmentally-friendly and efficient chemistries for a “greener” battery. New Battery Interface Specification to Address Key Consumer and Manufacturers’ Issues Webcom Communications Corp. 7355 E. Orchard Rd., Suite 100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Phone 720-528-3770 Fax 720-528-3771 www.BatteryPowerOnline.com Office hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST 4 Battery Power • May/June 2012 www.BatteryPowerOnline.com http://www.BatteryPowerOnline.com http://www.BatteryPowerOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Battery Power - May/June 2012

Battery Power - May/June 2012
New Battery Interface Specification to Address Key Consumer and Manufacturers’ Issues
Demand Spike for Backup Power Systems Stokes Growth in the Global Stationary Lead Acid Battery Market
Battery Management Considerations for Large Cell Count Systems
Flywheel Energy Storage – A UPS Battery’s Best Friend
Zero-Volt: Medical and Satellite Battery Technology Can Help Improve Safety of Electric Vehicles
Second Edition of IEC 62133: The Standard for Secondary Cells and Batteries Containing Alkaline or Other Non-Acid Electrolytes is in its Final Review Cycle
Batteries
ICs and Semiconductors
Charging & Testing
Components
Power Supplies
Industry News
Marketplace
Calendar of Events
Research and Development

Battery Power - May/June 2012