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Technology Stocks : VALENCE TECHNOLOGY (VLNC)
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To: barrcuda who wrote (1380)11/17/1997 11:56:00 PM
From: Javelyn Bjoli  Read Replies (3) of 27311
 
>I asked Dave about the 50 thousand a month they receive from GM and
>was told they are looking at batteries for lights and ignition
>systems. Not so much for electric vehicles.

GM is looking to polymer to make an ignition battery with half the weight of lead-acid. If a battery weighs 40lb. in a 4000lb car, saving half the weight shaves 0.5% off the weight of the car in one chunk. It's a big deal considering the work they go through to save ounces here and there.

It's probably good for VLNC that this is the application of most interest, because electic cars are years away. The US Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) is sponsored mostly by the big 3 automakers. Despite pouring millions (a pittance to them) into EV development and making PR statements about the future, they aren't ready to be forced to change their ways just yet, and are controlling the pace of development to suit their needs. Add the Big Oil lobby controlling the government's interest in USABC, and EV's don't stand a chance of existing for real until the California legislation mandating 2% of sales be zero-emission by 2003 kicks in.

PS. David, thanks for your great report. Any chance they showed you around the lab or the small factory?
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