Battery and fuel cell news

BY PAUL O’SHEA

Battery troubles in the 787

The Li-ion battery located beneath the cockpit of the Boeing 787 that recently caught fire, while on the ground at Boston’s Logan Airport may have been subjected to voltage exceeding the design limit, according to a statement from the Japan Transport Safety Board, (also see http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Trial_by_fire_Boeing_should_have_chosen_a_safer_type_of_lithium-ion_battery_chemistry_for_its_787-article-newspo01_787_18jan2013-html.aspx ). The suggestion is that the fault may not be in the battery itself, but in the battery protection circuitry. A clear understanding of the cause is important not only for the future of the 787, but also for the Airbus A350 and the International Space Station (ISS), both of which have announced their intent to use the same or very similar Li-ion batteries from GS Yuasa Lithium Power.

Energy Harvesting session at APEC

The Power Sources Manufacturers Association (PSMA) Energy Harvesting Committee is sponsoring an Industry Session at APEC 2013 ( http://welcomminc.createsend1.com/t/r-l-uiydhuy-ahdthyhyd-t/) titled “Forging Ahead: Global Commercialization of Energy Harvesting Technology.” The PSMA session will take place on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Long Beach, CA, Convention Center, and will feature seven experts from the commercial and research institute sectors. Hailing from Cymbet, EnOcean, Fraunhofer Institute, Infinite Power Solutions, Linear Technology, NXP, and Texas Instruments, the speakers will discuss key technologies integrated into innovative energy-harvesting-powered systems.

Battery conference

The Advanced Automotive Battery Conference, held February 4 to 8 in the Pasadena Convention Center, will offer sessions addressing battery materials and chemistries, cell and pack design, durability, and assessments of the electric vehicle market. Find more information at http://advancedautobat.com/conferences/automotive-battery-conference-2013/registration.html. ■