Subject: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=a70odMy4PSuY&refer=home

 

Doron Levin,

 

In the subject article and your Jan. 2007 article on the Volt, "GM's Electric Auto Will Need a Leap of Science": you seem to view NiMH battery technology as some sort of failure or not worthy of mention.  The EV1 was not a "flop", it was killed by GM.  Is the Toyota RAV4 EV also a "flop"? This vehicle, with the tried and proven EV-95 NiMH battery from Panasonic, which lasts longer than the life of the car, has been driven for almost ten years with the original batteries.

 

Toyota can no longer use these batteries, Panasonic shut down production because of a suit from Chevron/Cobasys.  Do you believe as I do that Toyota would have a plug-in hybrid, or even a BEV, if they could use these batteries?

 

There seems to be universal acceptance of the notion that, battery technology is struggling and we need a "leap of science" in Lithium Technology.  GM pretends NiMH Technology does not exist.  What is your view?

 

Battery Technology is mature, and that maturity is realized in NiMH battery, for the BEV that is the EV-95 NiMH battery from Panasonic.

 

Lithium technology is in its infancy, and has many problems, most importantly is their life span of three years.  The NiMH has proven it will last for the life of the car.

 

This video explores the economics of the BEV.  You may have seen it.

 

A Moment of Transformation? Shai Agassi (25 min - Mar 12, 2008)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6115647726887047092

 

It is discouraging to see the media presenting GM's point of view as news without any question.  Here is a recent Mar 7, 2008 Detroit Free Press article presenting a similar notion to your early article in 2007.

 

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/BUSINESS01/803070314/1014/BUSINESS01

 

I wish I could change the views presented in the media or the media or GM or Chevron could convince me that I don't know what I am talking about.  It is all very disconcerting.  Our National Security hangs in the balance.  We need a solution to our foreign oil dependency.  Our economy is struggling under the burden of Oil Economics.

 

Respectfully,

Al Lococo

http://www.lococo.org/Electric%20Truck/Truck.htm

 

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