Monday, June 20, 2011 Batteries, batteries, batteries
 While real estate is all about location, location, location, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles are all about batteries, batteries, batteries.
Battery performance is the key-limiting factor, affecting both the price of the vehicles, and the driving range. Superior performing lithium ion batteries currently make up an estimated half of the high cost of EVs.
While generally a closely guarded secret, today’s cells are estimated, by J.D. Power & Associates, to cost around $750 to $800 per kilowatt-hour. In order to achieve parity with gasoline-powered vehicles, these costs need to approach the $200 mark.
What else stands in the way of EVs going mainstream? Read all about it in the 2011 edition of Automotive Environment Annual, available this July.(JK)
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