Del, there's quite a bit more to the PIHEV story. Dwmeldrum posted that article on Yahoo!, and here is some interesting additional stuff (a copy of my reply):
DW, this is a good time to remember that Ovshinsky and Stempel have been granted a patent on NiMH batteries -- mated with a hybrid system -- suitable for PIHEVs (AKA "ZEV-range Hybrids").
Here's a key passage from the report linked by alfranco:
rdrop.com
(By Energy Conversion Devices and U. of CA Davis)
"Is it possible to achieve reduction in pollution comparable to that inherent with electric vehicles together with the range possible with convention ICE vehicles? This requires a hybrid electric vehicle with significant ZEV range, and thus a battery with high energy density as well as high power. These requirements are well met by nickel-metal hydride batteries developed by Ovonic Battery Company (OBC)"
Stan and Stempel invented the PIHEV -- with respect to special NiMH batteries -- in late 1997 and applied for a patent that was granted in late 2001:
From Patent 6,330,925 granted to Ovshinsky and Stempel on Dec 18, 2001 (applied for Nov 24, 1997)
"Another object of the present invention is a power system for a hybrid vehicle comprising Ovonic NiMH batteries having high power combined with high energy density, excellent low depth of discharge cycle life, good thermal management, and excellent gas recombination.
These and other aspects of the present invention are satisfied by a hybrid electric vehicle drive system comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor and at least one nickel metal hydride battery module for powering the electric motor, the at least one nickel metal battery module having a peak power density in relation to energy density as defined by the following expression:
P>1,420-16E
where P is the peak power density as measured in Watts/kilogram and E is the energy density as measured in Watt-hours/kilogram."
The batteries used for the vehicles described in the ECD/Davis report satisfy the above relation for P and E. |
