Electric Cars and Trade Shows
The electric car is coming. So how many times
have you heard that statement in past years? Too many times, I’m
sure. However, if the recent news reports are on target, you
just might see an electric vehicle within the next two years
powered by lithium-ion batteries. A number of car manufacturers,
among them GM, Toyota, and Nissan, plan to introduce electric
vehicles with li-ion batteries in 2010.
Hybrid vehicles on the road today are powered
by either lead-acid or nickel-metal hydride batteries which are
heavy and take up too much valuable trunk space. New li-ion
technology developed by A123 Systems promises to overcome these
disadvantages with batteries that are touted as lighter and more
compact.
According to a recent article in the MIT
Technology Review, a hybrid is designed to use the battery
only occasionally, leaving the engine to power the vehicle for
most of the time. GM, however, wanted a car that could
accommodate short commuter trips on battery power alone without
using the engine. Deciding on li-ion technology, GM started
working with A123 to develop a li-ion battery for the Volt, its
new concept car.
What’s unique about A123’s battery is the
method of manufacture. Using nanotechnology and a special doping
process of trace metals, the battery life has been extended much
longer than conventional li-ion batteries. In fact, the company
anticipates its batteries will last more than 15 years of daily
use. Additionally, since they operate at a lower temperature,
many individual batteries can be grouped into a battery pack
without degrading operation.
The battery pack in the Volt is designed to
be charged from standard household 110-V AC power and will
provide a driving distance of about 40 miles according to the
company. As necessary, the engine will run to charge the battery
for trips that can extend up to 640 miles. In reality, the Volt
still is a hybrid, but maybe it’s one step on the way to an
only-electric vehicle that can accommodate a reasonable driving
range.
On another topic, some of you readers were
kind enough to respond to my editorial "What About Trade Shows"
that appeared in the May issue. You may remember that I ranted
about our experiences at the recent APEX Show in Las Vegas which
turned out to be less than rewarding.
The responses generally were in line with my
views. One reader found the planning of the exhibit layouts to
be poor, especially for small companies, but enjoyed attending
the technical sessions. Another said that some trade shows are
not as valuable as others and where they are held plays a large
part in his company’s decision to attend.
Yet another reader said his company generally
has a negative impression of all trade shows as far as realizing
a decent return on investment. One person said he was rarely
impressed by the folks organizing, managing, and running trade
shows. The days of the big shows generally are gone, he
continued, and his company now concentrates on smaller, more
focused events.
A past president of the IEEE EMC Society who also is active
in EMC committees explained how the society tries to make their
shows more attractive for attendees and exhibitors. Their shows
are held at a variety of locations from coast to coast to
attract attendees from designated regions of the country. They
spend considerable time organizing and providing a good
technical program. But probably the most important reason to
attend is the free food that usually is available during their
events.
Paul Milo
Editorial Director
pmilo@evaluationengineering.com