When a lithium ion battery reaches the point at which it can no longer be used in an electric car, it still has the potential to be used in other applications. But exactly what are the best uses for them?
The U.S. government is backing a comprehensive study to determine just that, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced Tuesday.
"To date, no one has comprehensively studied the feasibility, durability, and value of Li-ion batteries for second-use applications," NREL said in a statement.
The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) will lead the research project which will explore the best applications for used lithium ion batteries. Potential uses include employing used batteries as energy storage devices for variable electricity sources like wind and solar that could also tie in to the electric grid.
"The NREL award to the CCSE team leverages an ongoing UC Davis-CCSE-TSRC study funded by the California Energy Commission on the repurposing of used EV batteries for home energy storage. The total budget for the NREL-CCSE second use battery project is approximately $1.3 million with 51 percent of the funding coming from CCSE and its partners," according to NREL.
The group will also examine how lithium ion batteries might be better designed or manufactured to maximize their potential for second-life uses.
NREL's project is not just a technical study. Like many Department of Energy projects in recent years, a comprehensive study on the economic consequences will be conducted in tandem with the application research.
The team plans to investigate how a second-use system might be used to temper the expensive cost of electric cars and electric-car batteries in the U.S.
It might be economically viable, for example, to have a system where people or companies can give electric-car batteries over for second use, and obtain a refund or credit for the battery's remaining value. Such a system might lower the overall cost of a lithium ion car batteries for manufacturers and consumers.
In addition to researching all the possible uses for lithium ion batteries, the study will also include comprehensive testing to determine battery lifespan, as well as developing a standard for testing and determining battery life.
She explained that when they were first married they kept their separate homes.
but with hockey player Fisher's transfer to The Nashville Predators from Canadian club Ottawa Senators he has moved into Carrie's home - bringing all his belongings.
'Well, we started out you know we got married. He went back to
Canada. I went back to Nashville... then he got traded to Nashville.
'He came and he brought all of his crap with him. Our house became...he's not a hoarder but he's close, maybe.'
Ellen queried why the 27-year-old had never noticed this before.
But Carrie explained: 'We had it in all the guests bedrooms and he
had it boxed up and stuff. He's like babe, I need more space in the
closet and my heart just sinks.
'He'll keep like shirts and stuff and I'll go through it. You online
shop, you go shopping. He loves to shop. He's going to kill me.
'He has stuff come in and I'm like it's not going out fast enough. If you bring stuff in and stuff needs to go out. Do we need this shirt? It has a giant stain on the sleeve. Are we going to wear this again? No, then do something with it. It's still hanging up there.'
And when asked if Fisher was neat, she replied: 'No, oh no, no, no. It's everywhere.'
Admitting her husband might think she was a 'nag', Carrie explained that they were having to learn to compromise.
And it's not just Fisher's tidiness which is causing problems.
Fisher, 30, caused some controversy when he transferred to the Predators.
According to The Vancouver Sun, an outraged radio station made
accusations that he was lured away from the Canadian capital 'by a
country-music superstar.'
The station apparently also publicly banned her songs from the air, which drew a reaction from Fisher.
'I heard about it right away and Carrie heard about it and she was extremely disappointed and frustrated - I think they meant it as a joke that really wasn't funny,' he told the newspaper.
PITTSBURGH For the last week of the season, at least, the New Jersey Devils’ goaltending picture is pretty well-defined.
Johan Hedberg started Tuesday night in Pittsburgh and made 23 saves in a 4-2 loss to the Penguins. Martin Brodeur will be in net Wednesday night when the Devils host Toronto, and the plan is for Hedberg and Brodeur to split the team’s final two games — Saturday at the Rangers (likely Brodeur) and Sunday at home against Boston.
Beyond that, however, the goaltending plan is up in the air.
Brodeur, who will turn 39 May 6, intends to play out the final year on his contract in 2011-12, and is unsure what he’ll do after that because of the possibility of a work stoppage when the collective bargaining agreement expires after that season. Hedberg, who will turn 38 May 5 and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, said he hasn’t thought about whether he wants to return to New Jersey next season, and won’t do so until this season is over.
Brodeur would like to see Hedberg return, but acknowledges that the organization needs to start grooming a goaltender for the future or bring one in from the outside.
“I ain’t going to be here too much longer, so I think it’s important to get some young guys, too, you know, give them an opportunity depending on how it goes,” Brodeur said.
Although Brodeur claims he hasn’t thought a lot about how the team eventually will replace him, he says he’ll care about what happens after he retires.
“I’d like somebody to come in and (make) an impact,” he said. “It might have to be through free agency also. Who knows?”