Not to be picky, but Ballard (which is virtually just around the corner from me) doesn't make batteries. Their technology is fuel cells, extracting electrical energy from fuels (pref hydrogen, but can be plain old gas, though hydrogen is best because all it puts out the 'tailpipe' is water vapour!). Huge support (EDIT: huge like $1B last investment!) from big auto players (Benz, GM) and something I'd have like to have bought 10 years ago when I first heard of it locally and thought it was amazing stuff.
Have some friends that work there; got a tour one day and it is an amazing, amazing place. Huge potential for not only autos (first production one to hit the road from Benz in, I believe, 2002), public transportation (trial buses on the road in Chicago, Vancouver and somewhere in CA at least), submarines (no noise, but also no heat to track like a nuke sub has to shield, and they've made their first sale there), and local power plants of every size for buildings up to cities.
Still think it's a great long term buy, but short term little to get from it. IMHO.
Anyway (sorry for the rant), not batteries. <GGG>
WUWT |
