"Load and Use" on Battery Are Not Alone Sufficient

A battery charger has limited possibilities of diagnosis and can not detect a low battery. The green "ready" does not check the good battery performance but simply indicates that a battery is fully charged.

The low battery load faster and stay longer on the indication "ready" than those who are stronger. This makes the bad batteries tend to "gravitate" to the top and when choosing a battery, become the target of a user not suspecting this problem. In an emergency, where action is needed fast charging, the batteries that indicate the status "ready" are perhaps the "dead wood". At the same time, good battery packs are still being charged because they have more capacity to fill.

Manufacturers of portable equipment preach the importance of regular testing of batteries. The battery analyzer ensures that all batteries meet the required performance level.

The battery analyzers C7200 C7400 2-Post and 4-positions are well suited to the maintenance of rechargeable battery used in communications devices. These analyzers are simple to use and provide accurate information on health status. In addition, analyzers extend the 18650 battery life and restore the lost capacity of nimh batteries. Future replacements of the lithium batteries can be predicted, thereby improving system reliability and reducing costs. Figure 6 shows the Cadex C7400 battery analyzer.

According to the NYT, the country ravaged by war alone has more than all major lithium reserves, notably Russia, South Africa, Chile and Argentina combined.

With this discovery, many observers argue that the huge deposits of lithium could change the economic model of the country, making it go from being almost nonexistent to that of one of the biggest mining giants the world has ever known. However, it will still manage the political instability.

BMW and Toyota Begin Lithium-ion Battery Research Cooperation

BMW is more than willing to align itself with other automakers in the race to develop future technologies, including a partnership with GM on hydrogen fuel cells and a deal with Toyota for diesel engines. Late last year, BMW and Toyota signed a memorandum of understanding (pictured) that said the two companies would work together to create new green technologies. Today, we learned a few more details about the plan to make better electric vehicle batteries with the news that the two companies have now signed a joint research agreement for better next-generation lithium batteries.

Specifically, BMW said in a statement, the project will try to increase "the performance and capacity of lithium-ion 18650 battery cells through the use of new combinations of materials for cathodes, anodes and electrolytes." That's not as exciting as testing a new vehicle, but when better batteries get to cars on the market, we'll be thankful someone took the time to figure it all out.

Honda Insight: Inexpensive Hybrid Vehicle

A low price tag may no longer be enough

Initial Thoughts

I know the CR-Z, Mr. Insight. And you, sir, are no CR-Z. You may be among the least-expensive hybrids out there, but you are not among the best.

The 2000 Honda Insight was the first commercial hybrid we saw; the Toyota Prius was the first worldwide, but the Insight arrived in Canada slightly ahead of it. Unlike that original two-chair model, the current Insight has a rear seat, and it’s arguably a much handsomer vehicle. But it’s not as technologically advanced as the Prius, and it’s nowhere near as much fun as its more powerful, and surprisingly sporty and tossable Honda CR-Z cousin.

The Insight was temporarily discontinued for 2011 – Honda cited production difficulties due to the Japanese tsunami – and it returns for 2012 in a single base LX trim line, with the upper-level EX trim no longer available. Its MSRP is $21,990, but only a few options and accessories can be added to it, including a “Protector Package” of all-season mats, cargo tray and mud guards for $405, a leather-wrapped steering wheel for $194, and a USB adapter at a hefty $468.

Performance

The Insight starts with a 1.3-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine, rated at 88 horsepower and 88 lb-ft of torque. Honda then hooks it to an Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, a thin electric motor that can boost the combined output to a maximum of 98 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. The motor’s powered by a nickel metal hydride battery (NiMH) that recharges through regenerative braking – you don’t plug this car into the wall to charge it. The sole transmission choice is an automatic, gearless continually variable transmission (CVT).

As with other hybrids, the Insight has a start/stop function: when you come to a stop with your foot on the brake, and such parameters as ambient and engine temperature are in line, the gasoline engine shuts off, saving fuel and eliminating emissions. The lights, stereo and climate system continue to operate, although I did notice that the heater fan speed dropped considerably. This was especially evident when I had the “Eco” button engaged, which also cuts back aggressively on the engine performance and throttle response. The engine starts up again as soon as you take your foot off the brake, with a bit of a rough jolt each time.

The Insight’s system is commonly called a “mild” hybrid, as the electric motor primarily assists the gasoline engine. It is capable of running on its battery alone, but only under certain conditions, which is most likely when you’re cruising on a flat road at around 40 km/h. It can’t start off on electric power or run at low speeds on its battery as the Prius can.

The performance is about what you’d expect for 98 horses in a 1,240-kg car, which means you have to rethink gaps in traffic. No matter how hard you stomp the throttle, that truck you just cut off is going to get very big in your rearview mirror. The CVT can be placed into Sport mode, which keeps it at higher revs and makes it feel a bit peppier, but it all gets rather noisy. The published fuel figures are 4.7 L/100 km in the city and 4.4 on the highway, while in a week of combined driving in moderate cold – most of it in the Eco mode – I averaged 4.9 L/100 km.

Ergonomics/Comfort/Quality

The Insight’s busy dash isn’t bad-looking, but there’s an awful lot of hard grey plastic, and combined with the tinny doors, it’s a bit low-rent. That said, when you’re getting hybrid technology and a NiMH battery for less than $22,000, you have to expect that there will be compromises. Everything fits together well, and there were no squeaks or rattles. I did find, though, that the dash and its lines are reflected in the windshield in bright sunlight, which became annoyingly distracting .

That odd centre stack is actually well-positioned for the driver, and includes standard automatic climate control, with a dial for adjusting the temperature. The stereo is equally simple, once you figure out that the on/off button isn’t the big dial in the middle, but a piddly little one up in the corner.

The two-tier dash has a digital speedometer up top, with a background that glows green when your driving is light-footed, and which turns blue when you’re being less economical. The bottom half contains the tachometer, along with a driver-selectable information screen that can display instant and average fuel economy, whether the car’s on gasoline or electricity, or a forest of tiny “trees” that sprout more leaves as you continue driving efficiently. I liked to keep the fuel economy gauge displayed, but every time I shut the car off, I had to hit the button on the steering wheel to bring it back again. Why can’t it just stay on?

Comfort-wise, the Insight’s seats are great for commuter drives, although they get hard on longer trips. The foot wells are long but narrow, and so when my passenger got squirmy on a long drive – the seats were past their comfort zone at that point – he couldn’t find the room to stretch his feet sideways for a bit of relief. The rear seats have enough legroom for full-size adults.

Functionality/Usability

There are several small-item cubbies, including two shallow ones in the dash, one lidded (a push-button opens it) and one open. The cupholders are set under the dash and in front of the shifter, and so you’ll probably rap a taller travel mug against the dash. Most will end up using the cupholder at the rear of the centre console.

Standard features include cruise control, power windows, keyless entry, fixed intermittent wipers, and a CD/MP3 stereo with auxiliary input jack, but no Bluetooth.

There’s also plenty of storage space at the back, with a cargo floor that’s 85 cm long when the rear seats are upright, and a completely flat 160 cm in length when they’re folded. There are also several cubby spaces hidden under the floor.

Conclusion

Up until recently, the Insight was able to claim the title of the least-expensive hybrid available. That was quite a selling point, since hybrids have a relatively high break-even point – that moment when the fuel you save makes up for how much more they cost over a comparable gas-only car. And while it never offered the most exhilarating driving experience, it was still fuel-miserly enough, especially if drivers needed more than the two seats offered in the vastly more fun-to-drive Honda CR-Z.

What’s thrown a wrench into everything is the all-new Prius c, the smallest of Toyota’s hybrids, which starts at $20,950 to the Insight’s tag of $21,990. It’s a bit stubbier but has comparable interior space, has pretty much all of the Insight’s features (plus Bluetooth and USB port), more airbags, the same combined horsepower, and most importantly, even better fuel economy, thanks to being able to run more often on electricity alone. The Insight may have been the first to reach our shores, but given so many strikes against it, I wonder how much longer it will last

Alternative Fuels

Although fuels such as gasoline and diesel are the most popular energy source for cars, there are several others, especially less polluting ...
Alternative fuels are patterns of energy use something other than oil, including gasoline and diesel. They have the great advantage of reducing pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases. There are several types including electricity, ethanol, natural gas, liquid propane, fuel cells and hydrogen, batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, biofuels, clean diesel, etc..
Electric vehicles
First, there is this type of vehicle that is becoming increasingly popular. It uses only one power, that of electricity. The electric vehicle thus produces no pollution and people with a do not need to visit petrol stations.
Although electric vehicles make a lot of attention for a short time, it's not yesterday that it exists. The electric motor appeared simultaneously with the car, which means the 19th century, as the combustion engine and steam. But it is especially in recent years that there is a resurgence in the field by some companies, including Mitsubishi, GM, Renault-Nissan and the company Bolloré. Since then, every automaker tries to have its fleet in its own electric model.
These are complex technologies, but in a few words, so that energy can move the vehicle, energy is created and stored in batteries and it is one or more electric motors that is the basis of operation. Battery charging is done via a external power source, a conventional electrical outlet in the house, but there are also more powerful kinds of chargers to reduce the cooldown.
19th century until today ...
However, whether the 19th century or today, the problems remain the same. They translate, how to increase the driving range and how to set up a network of supply for charging interest? If these problems persist since the 19th century and it is still difficult to find interesting and possible solutions, why continue to put as much effort on these systems? The fight against pollution and greenhouse gas emissions is becoming more and more people, as well as any possibility that there is more oil a day and the price of gasoline continues to climb ensure that electric cars are becoming increasingly attractive.
Research continues therefore to improve the autonomy, the life, efficiency and time to recharge the batteries. However, models built today are more powerful than before and also better designed, giving a chance to batteries offer higher yields.
Example Vehicle: Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Tesla Roadster, Nissan Leaf
Ethanol
This product consists of a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. This energy source could reduce emissions of toxic air about 4 10%. Most cars can use ethanol without the systems, including the engine, be modified, however, must not exceed an amount greater than 10% in the blend with gasoline. Ethanol and equipped with the EcoLogo certification "Environmental Choice" must have been made from corn, wheat or wood, or renewable natural resources.
Biodiesel
This product is considered as an alternative fuel for diesel. It is made from vegetable oil or waste cooking or animal fats. Biodiesel is considered to be less harmful to the environment because it burns better, so it produces fewer toxic emissions.
Natural gas
Like biodiesel, natural gas burns better, therefore produces fewer toxic emissions into the air. It is also more efficient than gasoline and traditional diesel. VGN called for natural gas vehicle, this compound has proven and continues to do them. Moreover, there are over 25,000 such vehicles in Canada. It is also possible to convert a gasoline vehicle into NGV. However, this is still the way to recharge problematic in this type of alternative fuel.
Liquid propane
Propane is a byproduct of natural gas and oil refining. This is actually a product gas under pressure, but stored in liquid form. Similarly we recharge his vehicle with gasoline, propane refueling is fast and is calculated by the liter.
Like the vehicles running on natural gas, it is also possible to convert a gasoline vehicle to vehicle propane. According to available data, propane could reduce emissions of greenhouse gases up to 20%. It is mainly large consumers of gas who use this type of fuel, such as delivery vehicles.
Fuel cell vehicles
A fuel cell is a current generator that transforms chemical energy into electricity through the oxidation of a fuel, for example of hydrogen and oxygen in the air, which occurs on the electrodes. The kind of battery is the most commonly used battery dihydrogen-dioxygen.
For some time, with research and studies, the fuel cell has become a very attractive alternative fuel. In addition to not produce any pollutants, they also have the advantage of having an energy-efficient.
The rechargeable batteries have both electrodes (anode and cathode) separated by an electrolyte (instead of the chemical reaction). The main difference between the various cells is the electrolyte, the product (gas or liquid) of the anode and the cathode gas.
There are many types of fuel cells including:
◦ fuel cell formic acid◦ fuel cell phosphoric acid◦ alkaline fuel cell◦ cell molten carbonate fuel◦ ceramic fuel cell protonante◦ ethanol fuel cell direct◦ fuel cell borohydride direct◦ reversible fuel cell◦ cell direct methanol fuel◦ photoelectrochemical cellThere are also other types of batteries, the best known are the cell solid oxide fuel, which is expensive but offer superior performance and fuel cell proton exchange membrane, which is the most interesting and promising for the automotive industry with a low operating temperature, its simplicity and good performance. This type of battery, although it has many qualities, however, an overall performance that is not high enough for use in mass. Studies are currently underway to improve the whole.
Fuel cells to hydrogen and methanol production methods are derived from the fuel cell.
Hydrogen fuel cells
This type of battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy, but directly and thus get a continuous stream. In this case, hydrogen fed to the anode and oxygen cathode. Its voltage is 1.2 V and can radiate heat up to 60 to 80 ° C.
What is nice with hydrogen fuel cells is that because they are based on hydrogen, they are not harmful to the environment. Some say it could also become the main energy resources in Canada for green transportation. Called VPC, for fuel cell vehicles, it is a method similar to battery electric vehicles. The major difference lies in the manufacturing process where instead of creating electricity by a reversible electrochemical reaction, electricity is generated here through an irreversible electrochemical reaction of oxygen and hydrogen.
Methanol fuel cell
There are two types of fuel cells based on methanol. First, there are the batteries Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell (RMFC) and also the batteries Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC). The difference is at the conversion of methanol. This type of battery is not very healthy for the environment, unlike hydrogen fuel cells, because they reject a lot of carbon monoxide and CO2.
There are also many other types of fuel including gasoline and clean diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, and dual fuel vehicles to flexible fuel, batteries (nickel metal hydride battery (NiMH), lithium-ion battery), the lead-acid batteries and hybrid electric vehicles already covered in another folder.
Automakers that offer vehicles or who have developed a prototype using the fuel cell are numerous. There is for example, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Renault-Nissan, etc..