February 27, 2013 - BASF is opening a new R&D laboratory and an application technology centre for battery materials in Amagasaki, Japan, which will focus on researching electrolytes and electrode materials for high-performance batteries.

February 26, 2013 - One World Technologies has recalled the Ryobi cordless tool battery pack, which can overheat and burst while on a charger, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

February 18, 2013 - The international ‘Science Award-Electrochemistry’ from BASF and Volkswagen promotes “outstanding scientific and engineering achievements”. It provides impetus for the development of high-performance energy stores, and scientists in the global academic research community are encouraged to apply now.

February 12, 2013 - Milwaukee Electric Tool has introduced the M18 Six Pack Sequential Charger, an Energy Star rated charger suited for up to six battery packs of any Milwaukee M18 Lithium-Ion battery. According to Milwaukee, users of the new six pack charger can reduce the amount of time spent changing out batteries, increasing productivity on the jobsite. The charger features integrated hang holes for vertical mounting, a pass through plug to help conserve outlet space, and claims to charge M18 compact batteries in 30 minutes and extended capacity (XC) batteries in 60 minutes.

MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL


January 25, 2013 - A consortium led by eCamion—along with Toronto Hydro, the University of Toronto, and Dow Kokam—has unveiled what it says is the first energy storage system installed directly into an urban community. Located at the Roding Arena and Community Centre in North York, Ont., the community energy storage (CES) system will allow Toronto Hydro to monitor this technology, and help validate its benefits to Toronto’s electrical grid, it explained.

January 8, 2013 - GE’s Digital Energy business has launched its VH series Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system, which features failsafe bypass for transfer from inverter to bypass if multiple fault conditions occur. The series also offers Double Conversion Technology for transfer from utility to battery power in the event of utility failure. The new UPS features integrated automatic shutdown software, GE’s Superior Battery Management and a range of communication options including USB port as standard, with the option of RS232, relay and SNMP card slots. Additionally, the VH series is up to 50% smaller than GE’s previous GT series, which minimizes the rack or floor space required for installation.

GE

December 31, 2012 - Saft has been selected by Cowessess First Nation (CFN) to design, produce and install a Battery Energy Storage System, including two Intensium Max 20E Lithium-Ion battery containers, as part of the High Wind and Storage Project near the City of Regina, Sask.

December 31, 2012 - Milwaukee Electric Tool has developed its 6th generation of Lithium-Ion with RedLithium 2.0 and XC4.0 batteries, suitable for performing in climates below -18ºC. Boasting all the benefits of the original RedLithium batteries, the new 2.0 and XC4.0 batteries claim to deliver up to two times more run-time, 20% more power and over twice the recharges than standard Lithium-Ion batteries.

MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL

December 20, 2012 - Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) says it has taken a major step forward to increase the participation of alternative technologies (such as aggregated loads, flywheels and battery storage) in the electricity market by selecting three new suppliers of regulation service: a grid-balancing function “traditionally provided by generators... a first for Ontario”.

(UPDATED November 16, 2012) November 15, 2012 - General Motors and ABB boast they showed “the next stage in battery reuse”: the repackaging of five used Chevrolet Volt batteries into a modular unit capable of providing two hours of electricity needed by three to five average Canadian homes. The modular unit was designed and built by engineers at GM Canada’s Canadian Engineering Centre in Oshawa, Ont.