Smaller, safer, solid state battery = double range for EVs

Credit: SolidEnergy/Charged EVs

SolidEnergy is an MIT spin-off founded by Dr. Qichao Hu & colleagues. Their battery uses a thin metal anode & solid state electrolyte to halve cell size.

Economies of scale will be immediately available because the cells can be manufactured on existing LiIon production lines.

SolidEnergy predicts:
2016 - smaller battery for handhelds & wearables
2017 - 2 x range for EVs

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/solidenergy-hopes-to-double-ev-battery-range-by-2017/

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/534626/a-battery-for-electronics-that-lasts-twice-as-long/ / SolidEnergy MIT spin-out company commercializing commercial solid electrolyte technology release 20 Ah EV battery 2017 two times range current Li-ion batteries battery technology Solid Polymer Ionic Liquid SPIL electrolyte ultra-thin lithium metal anode company improves cell-level energy density compared graphite anode compared silicon-composite anodes prototype 2 Ah pouch cell volumetric energy density 1,200 Wh/L novel electrolyte combines ionic liquid liquid polymer solid-polymer-coated lithium anode solid polymer coating dendrite-suppressing additives prevent dendrite growth SolidEnergy founder Dr. Qichao Hu colleagues MIT conventional lithium-ion batteries high temperature applications >50° C high reactivity volatility liquid electrolytes solvent-free solid-state solvent free solid state polymer electrolytes safe stable operation lithium-ion batteries battery elevated temperatures recent advances polymer synthesis devlop development novel materials exhibit solid-like mechanical behavior ionic conductivities liquid electrolytes A123 Venture Technologies Massachusetts technology incubator LiIon lithium ion EV/

How to keep your passwords secure

Passwords — how many do you have? Can you remember them all? Have you resorted to using just one password for everything? Maybe you name?

Above are only some of the many ways to create insecure passwords. Other things to be aware of:

http://www.softwarepro.com/articles/comp_passwordmistakes.htm

If creating & remembering a large number of secure passwords is too difficult, try a password manager:

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/02/lifehacker-faceoff-the-best-password-managers-compared/?utm_source=Lifehacker+Australia&utm_campaign=da00907808-lifehacker_2015_02_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9fc709844c-da00907808-278953185 / secure lock protect strong locks access digital property weak password computer password best line of defense defence damaging intrusions poor obvious password leave you vulnerable to identity theft theft of money invasion of privacy company data exposure sharing sensitive embarrassing information top 10 password mistakes create use more secure passwords mistakes make your passwords stronger easy to locate written on Post-It notes hidden under your keyboard typed smartphone tablet calendar day-timer easily find them secure location use password manager program best option passwords memorable unique write them down too common common phrases obvious patterns dictionary words combinations of words hackers hacking hack hacked attack dictionary dictionaries English foreign languages odd combinations based personal data information easily obtained name your spouse pet kids birth dates phone numbers addresses names grandsons change password easy to remember personal name login network login ID reversed capitalized doubled first middle last name your initials nickname easy to guess personal information automated programs people to decipher passwords based common items brands desk password dream car favorite vacation typed quickly look at the keyboard steal your password letters only secure passwords combinations numbers special characters punctuation marks upper lower case letters short in length at least 8 characters long minimum length variety of characters strengthen strength passwords too old change your password cracked LastPass Dashlane KeePass 1Password Roboform two-factor authentication 128 bit encryption reliability, features, security and support basic feature set mobile device features usability support security basic features password generation the only secure password is the one you can’t remember different password for every account you use password generator new account website web site form filling fill out your name address information automatically sites secure password sharing password managers support secure notes store extra passwords Wi-Fi networks personally identifiable information /

Don't text while piloting an aircraft

Credit: Reuters/Sgt Aaron Pataluna/Adams County Sheriff

We all know the dangers of talking or texting on a mobile (cell) phone while driving. Add selfies to that list.

Unsurprisingly, turns out it's dangerous to do any of the above while piloting an aircraft too.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/03/us-usa-crash-colorado-idUSKBN0L720720150203

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/02/pilots-selfies-likely-caused-fatal-crash-flight-investigators-say/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/03/ntsb-selfies-disoriented-pilot-causing-crash/22785475/ / pilot small plane was taking selfie pictures mobile phone cellphone cell phone short flights around Colorado airport 2014 crashed jaunt jaunts killing himself passenger federal investigators National Transportation Safety Board NTSB 29-year-old 29 year old pilot Cessna 150K plane lost control crash near Watkins Colorado contributing accident pilot pilot's distraction cellphone use maneuvering low altitude NTSB report Adams County coroner's office identified pilot Amritpal Singh passenger 31-year-old 31 year old Jatinder Singh related GoPro camera mounted the windshield plane facing into the cockpit captured actions pilot passengers series of short flights around the Front Range Airport Denver NTSB report GoPro camera capture the flight the crash recordings previous flights that day pilot passengers taking selfie pictures cellphones pilot observed texting on his phone NTSB report /

What to do with old electric vehicle batteries?

Nissan Leaf battery
Credit: Nissan/Torque News

For the naysayers, this question has long been settled: a major disposal problem.

Reality is that a electric vehicle (EV) battery will gradually lose capacity over time. At some point, diminishing capacity will reduce range below a useful level. E.g. if a Nissan Leaf owner is regularly using 75% of the vehicle’s battery capacity, the 25% capacity left at the end of the day leaves a useful safety margin. If, after several years of use, capacity has reduced to 80% of the value when new, the remaining 5% margin will probably be too small for comfort. At this time, there are a number of options availalble, which parallel the situation with an older internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle:

● pass it on to a family member with more modest commute needs, or the opportunity to charge through the day
● sale as-is
● replace the battery — for a Nissan Leaf in the United States, this will cost $5,500, which includes a $1,000 rebate for the old battery (clue: Nissan is prepared to pay $1,000 for the old battery)

A new Nissan Leaf battery has a capacity of 24 kWh. In the hypothetical example above, the used battery with 80% capacity remaining still has capacity of (24*0.8=) 19.2 kWh.

Though marginal for some automotive purposes, such batteries could be repackaged for a number of less demanding applications, such as storing excess grid electricity at periods of low demand for use at times of peak load. This is already being done using hydro in such places as the Snowy Mountains in Australia & Foyers Power Station, Loch Ness, Scotland *.

http://www.torquenews.com/2250/you-only-live-onceunless-you-are-ev-battery

Recycling Nissan Leaf battery

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/02/18/used-nissan-leaf-batteries-support-solar-energy-system-japan/

http://www.torquenews.com/2250/you-only-live-onceunless-you-are-ev-battery

BMW has plans too:

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/bmw-establishes-retirement-plan-for-ev-batteries/

Making renewables base load:

Large scale storage is necessary to make renewables base load.

__________
* Foyers Power Station, Loch Ness http://schulen.eduhi.at/kultfor/eee/energy/energy/foyersps.htm / electric vehicle LiIon lithium ion lithium-ion batteries limited life span long life typical EV battery capacity falls below 80% Nissan LEAF 50 or 60 miles of range vehicle no longer fulfills its purpose option recycling recycle battery shredded metals cobalt, aluminum nickel copper recovered lithium salts filtered out converted lithium carbonate economic value lithium minimal metals nickel cobalt lithium-ion batteries less conducive to recycling nickel-metal hydride cells valuable nickel economic benefit recycling varies battery chemistry large scale economics economy economies of scale battery recycling facility Toxco received D.O.E. funding dedicated EV lithium-ion battery recycling facility Ohio plant due to be completed 2014 or 2015 storage capacity battery great energy storage second life EV batteries automakers research labs think tanks universities companies significant resources investigating secondary uses spent electric vehicle batteries utilities load leveling stabilization back-up power emergency emergencies integration renewable energy sources solar wind energy storage can smooth fluctuations power output sources more reliable viable utilities utility distributed applications stationary storage residential solar panels services energy storage systems increase in value smarter electricity grid /

The Pirate Bay is back!

Like a phoenix from the ashes
Credit: The Pirate Bay/Torrent Freak

After a police raid on its data center, near Stockholm, Sweden, The Pirate Bay has been unavailable.

Until 31 January.

http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-back-online-150131/

https://thepiratebay.se/ / back on line online The Pirate Bay has risen from its digital ashes once again TPB back online today seven weeks servers raided notorious torrent site operating familiar .se domain appears data loss minimal early December The Pirate Bay raided Nacka station nuclear-proof data center mountain complex near Stockholm down two weeks domain came back online waving wave pirate flag temporary homepage TPB countdown to February 1st reappear that day lived up to comeback expectations one day ahead of schedule site started serving torrents delight millions users The Pirate Bay’s homepage currently features a Phoenix /

How much fun is a Tesla Model S? (video)

This much:



Unexpurgated version:
http://youtu.be/LpaLgF1uLB8

And about to get a little bit more fun:
http://mashable.com/2015/01/29/air-update-tesla/

Tesla Roadster is still a whole bunch of fun too:
https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/how-much-fun-is-tesla-electric-car.html / Tesla's 'Insane' acceleration button about to get more insane Tesla Model S P85D zero to 60 mph 3.3 seconds insane mode button Tesla CEO Elon Musk even faster latest dramatic reveal Twitter tweet tweeted electric vehicle EV 4 four door sports saloon Model S P85D acceleration will improve 0.1 seconds automatic over the air software update insane speed side-effect another feature over-the-air software update inverter algorithm dual motor cars also all-wheel drive main goal purpoe dual motor traction on snow side effect LiIon lithium ion battery /

Tesla Supercharger Network in Australia — 10 planned by year's end (update)

Credit: Tesla/EFTM

Tesla is not just an electric car manufacturer, but aims to provide a complete, sustainable, personal transport solution.

Motorists are accustomed to vehicles with a range of hundreds of kilometres & 5 minute refuelling. Selling a typical electric vehicle (EV), with its relatively short range, & slow charging, into such a market, is difficult.

Tesla’s solution to the range problem is more battery capacity than any other manufacturer (60 or 85 kWh 70, 85 or 90 kWh) & a range up to 500km in the Model S. That much battery capacity is expensive, but Tesla has built a car around those kWh, consistent with the price — Consumer Reports (USA) rates the Tesla Model S the best car it has ever tested.

Tesla has demonstrated battery swapping faster than a petrol vehicle can be refilled, but in practice, to date, their “refuelling” solution is a network of Supercharger fast chargers which can recharge a Model S to 50% in 20 minutes. Superchargers are free to use by Tesla vehicles, & owners have taken advantage of this to make coast to coast road trips across the USA, at no fuel cost. A little more mundane: fast chargers supplied to owners, & co-operating hotels, which allow a complete charge overnight.

Introduction of the Model S in Australia was half of the solution. The other half, a Supercharger network, is a work in progress. Maps indicate that Melbourne to Northern NSW will be available by the end of 2015 & north of Brisbane by the end of 2016.


Credit: Tesla/EFTM

http://eftm.com.au/2014/12/tesla-is-go-in-australia-showroom-open-cars-delivered-and-supercharger-network-announced-18309

http://www.smh.com.au/drive/electric-car-company-tesla-plans-16-supercharger-stations-between-melbourne-and-brisbane-20150111-12lw2a.html / travellers car park resides panel solar grid newly constructed car port electric revolution charging stations electric cars petrol bowsers driving longer distances electric cars the way of the future electric vehicle EV new car sales figures demand for electric cars, Australia big infrastructure investment technology American electric car company Tesla 16 high-powered supercharger stations between Melbourne Brisbane 2016 stations Tesla customer travel supercharger network exceeding 140 stations established luxury brands BMW local electric market rollout free electric charging stations build it and they will come Tesla spokesman Heath Walker supercharger network hotel partnerships high powered wall units motles hotels single three phase Darling Hotel in Sydney Marriot Melbourne range anxiety high purchase prices infrastructure charging at home barrier 40 amps of power home house charge overnight up to 500km of range next morning forward thinking Elon Musk design range car charging station free for public use /