Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Facts About Solar Energy
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Solar Energy Fundamentals Part 1
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010
13 Key Questions and Answers about Nissan Leaf Battery Pack and Ordering
Yesterday�"s groundbreaking for Nissan�"s Smyrna, Tenn. battery plant allowed us to do a deep dive with Mark Perry, Nissan's director of product planning for the Nissan Leaf. The new facility will thrust Nissan and the State of Tennessee into the forefront of global manufacturing of electric cars and the lithium batteries that power them.

A Nissan technician on the production line in Smyrna, Tenn. bolts a gas tank into a Maxima. Nissan will run the Leaf on the same line, but will install battery packs instead of gas tanks�and electric motors and components, instead of engines and transmissions. (Photos: Brad Berman. All rights reserved.)
First these facts, and then what we learned compiled into a set of Qs and As:
- Annual battery pack production in Smyrna (starting in 2012): 200,000
- Annual Nissan Leaf vehicle production in Smyrna: 150,000
- Number of battery modules in a Nissan Leaf: 48
- Number of cells per module: 4
- Weight of pack: 300 kilograms (660 pounds)
- Amount of lithium in the pack: 4 grams
- Weight of the Nissan Leaf: Approx. 3,500 pounds
- Amount of DOE loan for new facility and retooling: $1.4 billion
- Anticipated number of jobs created: 1,300
The Nissan Leaf Battery Pack
What�"s the advantage of producing the batteries in Smyrna?
The battery pack is expensive to ship. Local production reduces logistics cost, protects the company from currency fluctuations, and brings jobs to the United States. The DOE loan helped make it happen quicker.
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Buy Wind Turbines
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Toyota President Wants Eco-Cars to Be �SFun to Drive⬝
Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept
While many car companies focused on horsepower and size during the past decade, Toyota staked its reputation on dependability and eco-friendly hybrids. Toyota�"s leadership is now calling for more excitement (a.k.a. speedy performance) to go with its green image.
Automotive News reported today that Toyota President Akio Toyoda is ordering engineers and designers to spice up the brand's bland image. "I wanted a car that shows what we are aiming for, something affordable, fun to drive and good for the environment," Toyoda said. He points to the MR2 hybrid sports concept as the kind of product he expects from a new focus on fun.
When Toyota unveiled the MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January, observers gave it a zero percent chance of being produced. The 400-horsepower MR2 hybrid is based on the MR2 platform that was nixed from the U.S. market in 2005.
The MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept combines a 3.3-liter V6, used to drive the rear wheels through a continuously variable transmission, and an electric motor for the front wheels. The concept has an estimated zero-to-60 time under 4.5 seconds.
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Solar Energy: What Kind of Power It Is?
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President Obama on solar energy competition
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