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PowerLines by Linnea Brush
If Life Gives You Lemons... - Page 2
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But just because life hands you lemons doesn’t mean you can’t do a turnaround – and that’s what some companies are doing (and what others probably should do). Exploring alternative markets for batteries is going to become very important in the coming years, as the promise of EVs gets pushed out.
An interesting example of this is a recent story about researches in Norway “hoping to turn an experimental fuel cell ship into a battery hybrid vessel in order to improve its efficiency.” The team plans to install a battery system onto an adapted commercial ship to operate alongside its molten carbonate fuel cell, which is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Fuel cells have been seeking alternative markets for some time, and the hybrid approach is often a good “transitional” solution for not-yet-widely-established technologies.
Batteries are certainly not transitional, but many of their applications are. If a company forms around an emerging approach to an emerging application, the odds of failure go up dramatically. Flexibility is needed to change the plan and find new markets (or a hybrid solution) that can keep the company afloat as it retools.
Energy storage technology (including batteries) is not the same as power supplies, but most now require sophisticated battery management ICs for monitoring and charging. The investment is not trivial, and (as recent reports show) manufacturing is critical. Finding lucrative markets is important, but being “first out of the gate” can be meaningless if the chosen market is slow to materialize. A number of battery companies are finding themselves in this situation, but it doesn’t mean they should throw in the towel.
Lemons may be sour, but if you add the right amount of sweetener, they make a very nice product, indeed. The alternatives often outshine the original plan.
More Information on the Web:
Vehicle Electrification Reports
Power Packs Reports
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We would like to hear your comments on the topics discussed in this column. We welcome the opportunity to publish opposing opinions. Please email Jeff Shepard at jshepard@darnell.com.
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Power Modules for Charger Applications
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