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Archive for the Batteries Category

Stealth mode Austin Li Battery company gets BIG VC $$$

I just saw an announcement that Austin based ActaCell (don’t bother w/ the site, it’s a 1 pager) raised $5.8M of VC money from DFJ Mercury Includes Google.org, Applied Ventures and Good Energie.  They plan to hire key technical talent and to further develop ActaCell’s innovative lithium-ion battery technology for commercial purposes.

ActaCell, Inc. on 2105 Donley Drive 78758 

Battery Post Corrosion - what to do?

I was watering the RAVolt’s batteries this weekend (as usual, 1 basterfull per cell) when I noticed that one of the battery terminals is corroded.  The powered is bluish and there is no acid splash around the terminal.  I’m not sure what to do yet, just reporting the problem.  I’ll ask AustinEV for help.

Corroded:

Corroded Terminal

Clean:

Clean Terminal

RAVolt maintenance & 16 mile drive

I finally got around to watering the RAVolts dry batteries. I gave them a nice long drink of electrons to see if I can get my range back into the 20s. They demonstrated their appreciation by making the RAVolt smell strongly of boiled eggs. Did I mention that I HATE boiled eggs? Do I think you care? Don’t answer, I know it’s a double “no.”

Anyway, I took the family out for egg flavored yogurt and a joy ride tonight. We were able to cruise 16 miles with two long climbs on 360 at highway speeds. The batteries were holding up nicely and I’m feeling optimistic that I did not completely crush them when I got stranded.

I’m planning to equalize the string (trickle charge 1 at a time) tomorrow after charging tonight.

PS: Are you interested in social media too? Check out apophrenia. I was just reading her post about an blogging income gap with teens.

Not my uncle’s Li batteries

But my uncle did send me an interesting link to new Lithium battery technology from Stanford.  Even if this is not ready for market, the electron microscope picture of silicon nanowire’s absorbing lithium is amazing!  The article has a concise description of Li battery chemistry.

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