Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD, Rochester Hills, MI) announced that they are in discussions with Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. (Japan) to settle existing disputes between them relating to nickel-metal-hydride batteries, including the pending patent-infringement lawsuit against Matsushita before the US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division. At the mutual request of all […]
Nissan Motor Co. (Japan) announced that it intends to launch its first fuel cell car by the end of 2005, unveiling its "Nissan Green Program 2005." The strategy calls for Nissan to participate in a government-backed initiative to test fuel cell vehicles on Japanese roads later this year. The program also calls for 80 percent […]
Hyundai Motor Co. (South Korea) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOA) with United Technologies Corp. (UTC, Hartford, CT) aimed at forming a strategic alliance to develop fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). "The alliance has provided Hyundai and Kia with a basis to actively respond to the commercialization of electrically powered automobiles expected around 2004-2005," stated Hyundai […]
DCH Technology Inc. (Valencia, CA) announced the retirement of its co-founder and Chairman David Haberman. The DCH board of directors named Robert Walker, who has served as a Company Director since January 1999, as Interim Chairman. DCH President and CEO John Donohue was named Vice Chairman. All changes are effective immediately. The DCH board of […]
Indigo Energy Inc. (Napa, CA) announced the successful testing of the company's patent-pending composite flywheel technology to a top speed in excess of 1,500mph, storing nearly 3,000Wh of energy. The testing was conducted at Toray Industries Inc. (Tacoma, WA), a $9.0 billion multinational conglomerate and the composite flywheel manufacturing partner of Indigo Energy. Target applications […]
SatCon Technology Corp. (Cambridge, MA) announced that it has elected Anthony Villioti to serve on its board of directors. Villioti is the vice president and CFO of AquaSource Inc., a water-resource management company and subsidiary of DQE Inc. Villioti served as a member of SatCon's board of directors from June 1997 to January 2000. His […]
Microsemi Corp. (Irvine, CA) announced the introduction of its new dual-channel low-dropout (LDO) regulator designed to save circuit board space and reduce end-product design cycles. The new LX8817 is a 2.5A dual-channel positive-voltage linear regulator having one fixed and one adjustable output. Typical applications include 3.3V to 2.5V adjustable linear regulators, low-voltage logic supplies, active […]
UTC Fuel Cells (South Windsor, CT), a unit of United Technologies Corp. (Hartford, CT), announced that Petrobras (Brazil) will install a PC25 fuel cell power plant at its research and development center (CENPES) in Rio de Janeiro. The unit, which produces 200kW of electricity and 900,000Btus/hr of useful heat, will provide assured power for the […]
In its fiscal 2003 budget recommendations to Congress, the Bush administration proposed that consumers who buy gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in the next seven years would get up to $4,000 in tax credits under the proposed budget, while buyers of fuel-cell vehicles could get up to $8,000. The credits would vary based on the vehicle's fuel […]
Ultralife Batteries Inc. (Newark, NY) announced that it has added the first two of a number of new Prismatic lithium-ion cells to its rechargeable battery product line. The cells, manufactured by Ultralife Taiwan Inc., will complement the company's existing Ultralife Polymer brand rechargeable products. The two new standard sizes of Ultralife lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are […]
ON Semiconductor Corp. (Phoenix, AZ) introduced its new single-cell, lithium-ion, battery-charge controller that features a standby current of 0.5µA. Designed for use in a wide variety of portable electronic devices, the NCP1800 delivers a small footprint, reduced parts count and extended battery life for wireless and portable handheld products. The NCP1800 is a constant-current/constant-voltage single-cell […]
Electric Fuel Corp. (New York) announced that the latest addition to its line of disposable, ready-to-use back-up INSTANT POWER batteries for digital cameras will support cameras that take four AA-sized batteries. The new battery is compatible with more than 50 digital camera models from market leaders Olympus, Kodak and Nikon, and outperform alkaline batteries in […]
iQ Power Technology Inc. (Vancouver, BC) announced that its German subsidiary, iQ Battery Research and Development GmbH (Munich, Germany), has been selected to provide its smart-energy management (SEM) technology platform for the LEILA intelligent freight car project. The new intelligent freightcar will be equipped with sensors for diagnostics, telematic applications like GPS and GSM-communication, and […]
Lithium Technology Corp. (LTC, Plymouth Meeting, PA) announced key corporate officer appointments. Andrew Manning was elected by the LTC board of directors to the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. Previously, Manning served as Executive Vice President of Operations, a position he had held since January 2001. The LTC […]
Gillette Co. (Boston, MA) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2001 results. Market share increased in Gillette's core category of batteries; Duracell achieved the seventh consecutive period of market share gain in the US. In line with company expectations, sales for the fourth quarter of 2001 declined three percent to $2.72 billion from $2.81 billion in fourth […]