Recharge Wrap-up: Porsche 918 Spyder named Robb Report Car of the Year, cheap E85 in MN
Samsung SDI brought four new batteries to the Detroit Auto Show. One is a 120-Ah battery with a range of over 300 kilometers (186 miles). A second is interoperable between plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. A third is a compact hybrid battery that offers smaller packaging without losing capacity. The fourth is a low-voltage system meant to replace or work alongside lead-acid batteries and improve fuel economy. Read more at The Korea Economic Daily, or in the press release below.
A relationship between a Minnesota ethanol producer and retailers means cheap E85 for customers. The DENCO II ethanol plant began blending its own E85 fuel in 2011, and now sells directly to 45 gas stations. DENCO II sets the pricing for the fuel, and has been running a promotion for certain retailers to sell E85 for about a dollar cheaper than E10 gasoline. That promotion includes a Cenex station in Alexandria, MN selling E85 for just 85 cents per gallon. The result has been success for both the producer and gas stations, with customers having more cash to spend on retail goods when they go inside to warm up. Read more at Ethanol Producer Magazine.
◇ Display batteries and materials for automobiles at NAIAS from January 12, 2015
◇ Introduce high capacity battery cells providing 300km driving distance per charge
◇ Present Non-Painting Metallic Material, the winner of SPE Automotive Innovation Award
□ Samsung SDI, the world-leading material and energy solution provider introduced automotive batteries and engineering plastic materials targeting the North American market at the Detroit auto show. Samsung SDI showed off automotive batteries for electric vehicles as well as advanced materials for the interiors and exteriors of conventional vehicles at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.
This was the first time for Samsung SDI to display automotive batteries and materials together at a trade show in the wake of its merger with Cheil Industries’ materials business unit last July. Samsung SDI aims to expand its competitiveness in automotive batteries to lightweight and functional materials for automobiles so that it would provide leading battery and material solutions in the global automotive market that satisfy both manufacturers and end customers.
□ Samsung SDI introduced four types of automotive batteries: First, 120Ah High Capacity Battery Cell designed to support long driving distance. Compared to 160km driving range of a car that adopts 60Ah cell, 120Ah cell enables cars to drive over 300km with one time charging, circling Jeju Island one and a half times along the coastal highway.
Second, Battery Module interchangeable between Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and Electric Vehicle (EV). Samsung SDI developed PHEV and EV cells of the same size to enable automotive manufactures to standardize the battery space in their cars, further expanding its leadership to automotive battery standardization.
Third, Compact Design Cell of which height is reduced to that of conventional cylindrical batteries. Compared to previous Hybrid Electric Vehicle cells, Compact Design Cell height has been reduced by over 20mm while maintaining the same level of capacity.
Lastly, Low Voltage System (LVS). This system replaces lead-acid batteries or can be used along with the existing batteries. When installed, the battery system provides Idle Stop & Go (ISG)-like improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO₂emissions.
Sehwoong Jeong, Executive Vice President of Automotive & ESS Business at Samsung SDI said “We tried to bring in a wide variety of solutions and products customers and markets are looking for to this show”, and he added “Samsung SDI plans to strengthen partnership with leading car makers in North America and around the world.
□ Samsung SDI also presented various eco-friendly materials with improved functionality for interiors and exteriors of automobiles, which is an attempt to extend Samsung SDI’s engineering plastic material competitiveness in IT devices and home appliances to automotive industry.
One of Samsung SDI’s attention-grabbing technologies is ‘Non-Painting, Metallic Material’. This material does not require painting process as it has its own color. It is strongly resistant to scratch-induced peeling and discoloration. The material has been applied for the center fascia of Ford’s Mondeo 2015 model. It won the top award in materials at the SPE Automotive Innovation Award in 2014 with its technological breakthroughs.
Seoungku Lee, Executive Vice President of Chemical Business at Samsung SDI said “We would beef up product development for part makers and increase the share of high value material solutions in product portfolio in partnership with automakers.” He added “Samsung SDI will lead the market with differentiated, highly competitive products”.
