A123 Systems
A123 Systems (Nasdaq: AONE)[1] develops and manufactures advanced lithium-ion (lithium iron phosphate) batteries and battery systems for the transportation, electric grid services and commercial markets. The company has 1,700 employees and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.[2]
Founded in 2001 by Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang, Dr. Bart Riley and Ric Fulop, A123 Systems’ proprietary nanoscale electrode technology is built on Massachusetts Institute of Technology research. In 2009, the company was included on the Guardian's "Global Cleantech 100" list.[2]
History
In November 2005, A123 Systems announced a new higher power, faster recharging lithium-ion battery system[3] based on doped nanophosphate materials licensed from MIT.
In December 2006, the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the company a $15 million development contract to optimize A123 Systems' proprietary doped nano-phosphate battery technology for hybrid electric vehicle applications with a focus on power, abuse tolerance, durability and cost. USABC is an organization composed of Daimler Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation.
On May 2007, BAE Systems announced that, starting in 2008, it would offer A123 Systems' lithium-ion battery technology as part of its HybriDrive Propulsion System used in the 2008 version of the Daimler Orion VII hybrid electric buses. As of September 7, 2009, more than 3,000 of the buses were in service.[4]
On March 5, 2008, General Electric, A123 Systems, and Think Global announced that the three firms had entered a partnership to enable global electrification of transportation. GE invested 20 million in A123 Systems to help them roll out batteries for Think. A123 Systems and Think at the same time signed a commercial supply agreement. The partnership was announced at the 78th annual international Motor Show in Geneva.[5][6][7]
On January 2009, the company announced that it had applied to the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVMLP) for US $1.84 billion in direct loans to support the construction of new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in the United States, locating the first plant in southeast Michigan near Detroit.[8] The company later won a $250 million grant to build that production facility.
In April 2009, Chrysler LLC announced a contract with A123 to supply batteries to their Envi (automobile) batteries.[9]
The company raised $380 million going public on the NASDAQ stock exchange with ticker symbol AONE on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 priced at $13.50 per share.[10]
Transportation
A123 Systems cells have garnered interest in the automotive market due to their power, safety and durability features.[11]
Passenger vehicles
- Tokyo, Japan taxis. Better Place is running a demonstration project with three electric taxis powered by A123 Systems batteries.[12]
Commercial truck, bus, and off-highway
- Navistar International EStar: Electric Vehicle(EV) delivery vehicle
- Daimler Buses North America (Orion VII). The number one selling hybrid electric bus in the world. Operating in New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Dallas and other major cities.
- Eaton: Plug-in hybrid Trouble Truck based on Ford F550 [1]
Racing
- Formula 1 KERS System [13]
- Killacycle, the worlds quickest electric vehicle capable of accelerating from 0–100 kilometres per hour (0–62 mph) in less than 1 second.[14]
Commercial
Black & Decker uses A123 systems batteries in its VPX and DeWalt power tool lines.[15]
Investments
The company has invested in Fisker Automotive's Karma with Ace Investments and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.[16]
The company has formed a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive to manufacture its batteries in China.[17]
See also
References
- ^ http://evworld.com/currents.cfm?jid=23
- ^ a b Global Cleantech 100 The Guardian, 8 September 2009.
- ^ EV World "A123Systems Introduces New Generation Lithium-Ion Battery"
- ^ "3,000 Hybrid Buses: Daimler Buses North America Reaches Sales Milestone". September 7, 2009. Retrieved August, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ GE press release
- ^ Think press release
- ^ A123 Systems press release
- ^ http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54461
- ^ http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/06/chrysler-to-use-a123-cells-in-its-electric-vehicles/
- ^ http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/24/news/companies/a123_ipo/index.htm
- ^ http://liionbms.com/php/cells.php#a123
- ^ Umali, Claire M. (April, 29 2010). "In Tokyo, taxis are going electric too". Retrieved May, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "McLaren Snags First F1 KERS Win; Custom A123Systems Cells with More Than 20,000 W/kg". Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ^ "The KillaCycle - New World Motorcycle Speed Record". Retrieved May, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=20570&ch=specialsections&sc=batteries&pg=3
- ^ "$ 115 million private funding hastens Fisker Karma's development". January 18, 2010. Retrieved May, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Abuelsamid, Sam (December 21, 2009). "A123 Systems and Shanghai Automotive form battery JV". Retrieved May, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)