Quantum and Dow Kokam deliver first Plug-In Hybrid Electric F-150

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has delivered the first pilot version of its plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) F-150 pickup truck to Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), in association with Dow Kokam, the lithium-ion battery system supplier for the PHEV F-150.
FPL is an early adopter of both PHEVs and EVs (Electric Vehicle), and operates one of the largest green fleets of any investor-owned utility in the country.
The PHEV F-150 is powered by Quantum’s “F-Drive” parallel plug-in-hybrid electric drive system. The “F-Drive” allows the truck to run the first 35 miles on electric drive and then switch to hybrid drive mode, achieving 100+ mpg depending on the drive cycle and charging frequency. The PHEV F-150 incorporates a 20 kWh lithium-ion energy storage system from Dow Kokam.
Current Dow Kokam cells use nickel metal cobalt (NMC) technology, and feature an energy density of 143 mAh/g, with a high cycle life of 2,000 cycles at 80% discharge.
Established in 2009, Dow Kokam is owned by The Dow Chemical Company, TK Advanced Battery LLC and Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault (Dassault).


Source: Green Car Congress

Ford and Dow Team Up to Bring Low-Cost, High-Volume Carbon Fiber Composites to Next-Generation Vehicles

PRESS RELEASE

• Weight reductions of up to 750 pounds on future Ford vehicles are key to meeting fuel economy and electric vehicle range targets
• Ford and Dow engineers and researchers will combine efforts to develop low-cost carbon fiber and component-level manufacturing processes

DEARBORN, Mich., April 12, 2012 – Cutting the weight of new cars and trucks by up to 750 pounds by the end of the decade is a key component of Ford's strategy to improve fuel efficiency. In order to help achieve that goal, Ford Motor Company is partnering with Dow Automotive Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, to research the use of advanced carbon fiber composites in high-volume vehicles.

"There are two ways to reduce energy use in vehicles: improving the conversion efficiency of fuels to motion and reducing the amount of work that powertrains need to do," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford chief technical officer and vice president, Research and Innovation. "Ford is tackling the conversion problem primarily through downsizing engines with EcoBoost® and electrification while mass reduction and improved aerodynamics are keys to reducing the workload."

Ford is investigating a range of new materials, enhanced design processes and new manufacturing techniques that would enable automotive structures to meet increasingly stringent safety and quality standards while cutting weight.

"Vehicle weight reduction for our customers through intelligent design with a materials focus has been a priority for Dow Automotive Systems," said Florian Schattenmann, director of Research and Development for Dow Automotive Systems. "This partnership with Ford on carbon fiber composites is a logical next step to progress already achieved through the use of lightweight, high-strength polymers and structural bonding technology."

Carbon fiber composites have been used in aerospace and racing cars for decades due to their unique combination of high strength and low mass. Until recently these materials have been far too costly for use in high-volume mainstream applications.

Dow Automotive Systems and Ford have signed a joint development agreement that will see researchers from the two companies collaborate on several fronts. The development teams will focus on establishing an economical source of automotive-grade carbon fiber and develop component manufacturing methods for high-volume automotive applications.

The partnership will seek to combine the best of Ford's capabilities and experience in design, engineering and high-volume vehicle production with Dow Automotive's strengths in R&D, materials science and high-volume polymer processing.

"Reducing weight will benefit the efficiency of every Ford vehicle," added Mascarenas. "However, it's particularly critical to improving the range of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles."

The joint development effort will also leverage work that The Dow Chemical Company has already begun through partnerships with Turkish carbon fiber manufacturer AKSA and the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

If the joint development effort is successful, carbon fiber components may begin appearing on new Ford vehicles in the latter part of this decade as product development teams work toward meeting new fuel efficiency standards of more than 50 mpg and extending the range of plug-in vehicles.

Dow Kokam Powers Medium-Duty PHEV/EV Commercial Vehicles for Fleet Operations

Dow Kokam Providing Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Solutions to Motiv Power & ZeroTruck

Dow Kokam, a leading large-format battery system producer, announced today in advance of the Work Truck Show that it has signed two new agreements to provide advanced lithium-ion battery solutions to power medium-duty plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and fully-electric (EV) trucks designated for fleet operations. Dow Kokam’s new projects with Motiv Power Systems and ZeroTruck will provide new electric vehicle options for flexible medium-duty truck designs that reduce carbon emissions and operating costs for fleet owners.

“Beyond their environmental benefits, PHEV and EV vehicles offer significant advantages to commercial vehicle and fleet operators in terms of cost, mission fulfillment, reliability and longevity. Dow Kokam’s high-performance advanced battery technology enables vehicle converters to unlock these advantages for fleet owners,” said Chuck Reardon, vice president of Dow Kokam. “We are excited by the opportunities that Motiv and ZeroTruck are providing to fleet owners to update their fleets and realize the long-term benefits of electrification.”

Dow Kokam’s large format batteries bring the reliability of more than 10 years of performance in demanding applications with system integration capabilities that have been proven in more than 1 million kilometers of rigorous, on-the-road testing. Dow Kokam technology has been adopted as the primary source of energy for high performance equipment in industries ranging from transportation, marine, aerospace, defense and high-end industrial products.

Dow Kokam’s advanced thermal management, proven reliability and flexible design are all key advantages for integration in commercial vehicles, enabling the company to provide solutions for the range of commercial operations included in the new agreements.

“Dow Kokam’s battery technology is a ready answer to fleet and commercial vehicle needs while also providing a very compelling total cost of ownership- scenario to owners,” said Reardon. “These flexible, high performance PHEV and EV vehicles represent a whole new range of opportunities for commercial vehicle owner and operators to revolutionize their fleets and operations.”

Motiv Power Systems, an electric drive power control system provider, with funding from the California Energy Commission, is using Dow Kokam’s advanced battery system to convert a Class 4, Ford E-450 diesel chassis to a completely electric system for a passenger shuttle bus. The fully-electric, 20-passenger shuttle bus has a 100 mile range, and will operate daily in the San Francisco region.

Over eight years, the adaptation of the fully electric bus is expected to save 40,000 gallons of diesel fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 435 tons.

ZeroTruck, a developer and producer of commercial electric trucks, is using Dow Kokam’s large-format lithium-ion battery systems to power fully-electric, Class 3-6 work vehicles based on the Isuzu N series chassis - a flexible medium duty truck platform. The ZeroTruck is available in Class 3-6 chassis and can operate at full highway speeds, with a 70 mile range in city driving and superior torque compared to conventional vehicles.

The versatile Isuzu N series chassis design enables ZeroTruck to be modified for utility, dry freight, stake bed, tow, sweeper, and refuse body type applications.

For more information about these agreements, and Dow Kokam’s proven advanced lithium-ion battery solutions, please visit www.dowkokam.com.

About Motiv Power Systems
Motiv is revolutionizing the way electric drive fleet vehicles will be built. Rather than requiring custom designed powertrain solutions for every new EV design, Motiv has developed a common platform that allows disparate components, developed by multiple vendors, to interoperate. Instead of trying to fit the current EV design paradigm into the truck and bus market, Motiv’s technology leverages the natural characteristics of this market, which relies on sourcing standard “off the shelf” components, to promote widespread EV adoption.

About ZeroTruck
ZeroTruck, newly headquartered in Allentown, PA, is a developer and integrator of commercial electric trucks for public and private fleet operators. It is the only electric manufacturer that uses a U.S. built motor and battery pack. The ZeroTruck electric drive integration system (EDIS) converts class (3-5) trucks in a wide a variety of body configurations to run on electric power with a highway speed of 65 mph and up to 100 miles per battery charge using Dow Kokam’s advanced lithium battery technology.

About Dow Kokam
Dow Kokam brings technologically advanced and economically viable battery solutions to the transportation, defense, industrial and medical industries. Uniting Dow, Kokam America and Dassault SVE creates the first battery and energy management systems manufacturer to combine viable, scalable large-format battery technology with the market franchise, manufacturing expertise and market knowledge necessary to become the clear partner of choice across industries.

Dow Kokam was established in 2009 to develop and manufacture advanced energy storage technologies for the transportation and other industries. The company is owned by The Dow Chemical Company, TK Advanced Battery LLC and Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault.