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Technology Stocks : VALENCE TECHNOLOGY (VLNC)
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To: webpilot who wrote (1306)11/9/1997 5:24:00 PM
From: FMK  Read Replies (1) of 27311
 
What could have caused ULBI's battery to overheat?

Other than an internal short, it could also have been defective charging circuitry in the OEM's computer. An Inappropriate design, defective regulator circuit or component could have caused the event.

Another factor that could increase the risk of overheating is that the battery's cathode may have been constructed of higher-energy cobalt rather than MnO2. Cal Reed explained during a Valence Conf. call that MnO2 is inherently safer due to its limited rate of energy transfer and is therefore less likely to overheat.

I remember a problem Valence encountered about 6 months ago with their line 1. As it was explained, a % of cells developed internal shorts. The problem was eventually traced to a component that caused uneven acceleration and stress before the hot resin was completely cured. The component was redesigned and the problem solved.

There has been a consensus that Valence is 3-6 months ahead with their technology, as was echoed by Red Chip Review. With the tremendous market and pressure from OEM's to acquire it, its understandable that ULBI may have underestimated the complexities of manufacturing and agreed to an optimistic timetable.

If it was indeed a shorted battery as described in the article, ULBI may be able to solve the problem within a reasonable time frame. It is unfortunate, however, that the customer may have unknowingly participated in a testing program that should have first been completed by the battery manufacturer.
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