National Semiconductor Corp. (Santa Clara, CA) announced a second program of open market repurchases of up to eight million shares of common stock. This program is in addition to a current authorization, previously announced on September 22, 2000, to purchase a similar eight million shares. As of the end of the second quarter of fiscal […]
Fairchild Semiconductor International (South Portland, ME) reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2000. Fourth-quarter revenues were $468.8 million, up 30 percent over the $361.0 million reported for the fourth quarter of 1999. Annual revenues for 2000 were $1,783.2 million, a 54 percent increase over the $1,160.0 million reported for […]
Ballard Power Systems (Vancouver, BC) announced that it has received a $1.9 million order from Honda R&D Co. (Saitama, Japan) for the Mark 900 Series fuel cell power modules and support services. The Ballard Mark 900 Series modules incorporate Ballard's latest-generation fuel cell stack, the Mark 900, which was designed to manufacture in automotive volumes. […]
Intersil Corp. (Palm Bay, FL) has signed an agreement to sell its discrete power business to Fairchild Semiconductor International (Sunnyvale, CA) for about $338 million in cash. Intersil expects a one-time gain during the first quarter and plans to use proceeds for acquisitions, alliances and product development. Fairchild estimates that the combination of its power […]
United Technologies Corp. (Hartford, CT) reported a 20 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings per share, to $0.84, as compared with $0.70 in 1999, excluding the restructuring charge and other actions in the prior year's quarter. Net income was $426 million, 18 percent above the $362 million reported 1999 before prior-year restructuring and other actions. Full-year […]
Electric Fuel Corp. (New York, NY) reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2000. Revenues for the fourth quarter were $2,20,000, compared with $566,000 in the previous quarter and $786,000 in the year-earlier period. Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2000 was $3,893,000, compared with $2,754,000 in the […]
A new polymer, developed with funding by TPL Inc. (Albuquerque, NM), may halve the size of the military's truck-borne pulsed-power capacitor banks, leading to more mobile weaponry. The polymer has a dielectric constant of 8.0, twice that of other insulating polymers used in capacitors, with the potential to go even higher. As a result, it […]
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Washington, DC) have revealed details of its proposal for a Fair Market Test to determine whether a sustainable consumer market exists for battery-powered EVs at volumes required by the California's Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is set to hold a hearing on proposed changes […]
SatCon Technology (Cambridge, MA) announced that it has been selected by the US Navy to develop modular motor drive systems for the Navy's DD21 all-electric ship. Under this award, SatCon will develop the initial design and perform simulation studies for a modular motor drive that will be designed to be compatible with several different motor […]
Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. (Japan) was chosen by Ford Motor Co. (Detroit, MI) to be the sole supplier of battery systems for Ford's first hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the Escape HEV, which will debut in 2003. Sanyo's battery system contains a battery holder with 240 batteries in a series/parallel configuration, as well as the ECU, […]
Tyco International Ltd. (Bermuda) reported that diluted earnings per share for its first quarter ended December 31, 2000 were 57 cents, a 24 percent increase over earnings of 46 cents per share in its first quarter of fiscal 2000. Net income before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting change rose to $1.01 billion, an […]
Maxwell Technologies Inc. (San Diego, CA) announced that it has signed an agreement to supply ultracapacitor energy-storage cells to General Motors (Detroit, MI) and General Motors' Allison Transmission division. Maxwell Technologies President and CEO Carl Eibl said that the agreement is the first of what the company expects to be multiple opportunities for its ultracapacitors […]
General Motors Corp. (Detroit, MI) has introduced a hybrid system that they believe will enable the company to sell a portfolio of hybrid vehicles, including cars, trucks and commercial vehicles. According to Vice Chairman Harry J. Pearce, sales of the new system will commence in 2004. General Motor's first adaptation of the new system will […]
Intertech (Portland, ME) will be holding an intensive workshop entitled "Designing Motors and Generators for Automotive Applications" from May 22 through 23, 2001, at the Boscolo Hotel Plaza Concorde in Nice, France. This seminar will provide extensive detail on designing permanent magnets, switched reluctance, and synchronous and induction electric motors, including dc and brushless dc […]
General Motors Corp. (GM, Detroit, MI) and Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC, Japan) have announced specific progress on their multi-year technology agreement. This progress, which includes identification of specific fuels for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), was achieved through separate research agreements and significant technological collaboration with ExxonMobil Corp. (Irving, TX). GM and TMC reported that they […]