Recharge Wrap-up: Indianapolis to switch 425 fleet vehicles to EVs, Chevy Corvette provides bat habitats
Tue, Nov 4 2014
EVs with longer range would make vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid energy management systems more practical for the US. The idea of using EVs as energy storage for emergencies or times of high grid demand is currently being tested in Japan with Nissan's Leaf-to-Home system. The US is also interested in such capabilities, but the higher average energy use of American households would make larger batteries in EVs ideal for grid storage applications. Read more at Green Car Reports.
LG Chem has broken ground on its EV battery plant in Nanjing, China. The factory, when constructed, will have a capacity of producing batteries for 100,000 cars per year according to the Korean company. The plant will supply batteries for Chinese automakers such as SAIC and Qoros. Construction is expected to be finished by the end of 2015 and LG Chem expects revenue of more than $933 million by 2020. Read more in the press release below.
General Motors is using adhesive used in the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray to create habitat for threatened bat species. Artificial bat caves could help alleviate white-nose fungus that leads to diminished bat populations. Leftover adhesive is used to create stalactites in the artificial caves, allowing them more structure to hang from. GM has also provided Volt battery covers to create nesting habitats for bats, which eat harmful insects and help pollinate plants. See the videos and read more in the press release below.
This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.
This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.
LG Chem officially breaks ground for China EV battery plant
Seoul, Korea - Oct 30, 2014 – LG Chem, Korea's leading manufacturer of advanced batteries, held a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of electric-car battery plant in Nanjing, China, to meet growing demand in the world's biggest car market.
The Nanjing battery plant, with an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 electric vehicles when completed by the end of 2015, will supply batteries to Chinese automakers like SAIC Motor Corp, Qoros and many other global carmakers in China.
Among the key participants who joined the groundbreaking ceremony were Miao Rui Lin, the Mayor of Nanjing; Luo Qun, the vice mayor; and YS Kwon, the President of Energy Solution Company of LG Chem.
LG Chem set up a joint venture in August with two Chinese state-run companies - Nanjing Zijin Technology Incubation Special Park Construction Development Co, Ltd. and Nanjing New Industrial Investment Group Ltd. - to start manufacturing EV batteries in China. LG Chem owns half of the joint venture while the other half is shared by Chinese partners.
The Korean battery giant said it has been investing hundreds of millions of dollars into the factory and expects a total of 1 trillion won in revenue by 2020, just by the batteries produced in Nanjing.
Corvette to Cave: Chevy Byproducts Give Homes to Bats
DETROIT – An adhesive used in production of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray may help preserve a threatened bat species in North America.
General Motors found that when processed, the adhesive can serve as a stalactite in artificial bat caves.
International bat experts from such non-governmental organizations as Bat Conservation International and the Organization for Bat Conservation are reviewing the application.
White-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus appearing on the muzzle and other parts of hibernating bats, has killed more than 5.7 million bats to date in the United States and Canada. Bats with the disease act abnormally and wake from hibernation too frequently, leading to death.
There is no cure for white-nose syndrome, but remedies like nontoxic fungicides and artificial bat caves show promise. Saving bats is important because they contribute to the overall health of the environment. A single bat eats up to 5,000 insects a night, which means farmers can use fewer pesticides. They are also pollinators that help repopulate plants and maintain forests.
"We need to do what we can to prevent more bats from contracting white-nose syndrome while they are hibernating," said Rob Mies, executive director for the Organization for Bat Conservation. "Researchers are working around the clock to find a way to stop the transmission from occurring in caves. This disease is occurring at a rapidly escalating rate and if a solution is not found soon, many bat species could face extinction."
Artificial stalactites give hibernating bats more surface area from which to hang, thus spreading them out around the cave. Creation of the stalactite is simple; robots that apply a structural adhesive that helps join Corvette body parts are purged regularly to keep the adhesive applicator clean and free of dried material. This dried gunk is the perfect shape for a stalactite, and its use in artificial bat caves avoids sending it to landfills.
Bat projects have been a part of GM for several years, examples of GM's industry-leading 26 certified wildlife habitat programs and penchant for creative recycling.
The company also creates bat houses out of scrap Chevrolet Volt battery covers that can hold up to 150 little brown bats each. John Bradburn, GM global manager of waste reduction, came up with the reuse idea, transforming the difficult-to-recycle material into nesting structures. So far, 232 of these bat houses have been installed on its properties and in other private and public lands in the United States. A tweak of the design has led to 368 specially designed structures to serve wood ducks, owls, bluebirds and scaly-sided mergansers – an endangered species.
"We think of waste as just a resource out of place and work hard to keep materials in use," said Bradburn. "Just like our stalactite concept or our bat houses, we seek out creative reuse projects that touch other elements of sustainability such as community engagement and wildlife preservation."
GM often works with local youth through schools, clubs and recreation centers to put the finishing touches on the nesting boxes.
"It's important to get kids involved in these projects, helping them to see things not as they are, but what they can be," said Bradburn.
GM Brownstown Battery Assembly, which generates scrap as it assembles battery packs for the Volt, is one of GM's 122 landfill-free facilities.
For more bat facts and information, visit Save the Bats and National Bat Week on Facebook or read more at www.batcon.org and www.savebats.org/bat-week.
For more information on GM's environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.
About General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
Seoul, Korea - Oct 30, 2014 – LG Chem, Korea's leading manufacturer of advanced batteries, held a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of electric-car battery plant in Nanjing, China, to meet growing demand in the world's biggest car market.
The Nanjing battery plant, with an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 electric vehicles when completed by the end of 2015, will supply batteries to Chinese automakers like SAIC Motor Corp, Qoros and many other global carmakers in China.
Among the key participants who joined the groundbreaking ceremony were Miao Rui Lin, the Mayor of Nanjing; Luo Qun, the vice mayor; and YS Kwon, the President of Energy Solution Company of LG Chem.
LG Chem set up a joint venture in August with two Chinese state-run companies - Nanjing Zijin Technology Incubation Special Park Construction Development Co, Ltd. and Nanjing New Industrial Investment Group Ltd. - to start manufacturing EV batteries in China. LG Chem owns half of the joint venture while the other half is shared by Chinese partners.
The Korean battery giant said it has been investing hundreds of millions of dollars into the factory and expects a total of 1 trillion won in revenue by 2020, just by the batteries produced in Nanjing.
Corvette to Cave: Chevy Byproducts Give Homes to Bats
DETROIT – An adhesive used in production of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray may help preserve a threatened bat species in North America.
General Motors found that when processed, the adhesive can serve as a stalactite in artificial bat caves.
International bat experts from such non-governmental organizations as Bat Conservation International and the Organization for Bat Conservation are reviewing the application.
White-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus appearing on the muzzle and other parts of hibernating bats, has killed more than 5.7 million bats to date in the United States and Canada. Bats with the disease act abnormally and wake from hibernation too frequently, leading to death.
There is no cure for white-nose syndrome, but remedies like nontoxic fungicides and artificial bat caves show promise. Saving bats is important because they contribute to the overall health of the environment. A single bat eats up to 5,000 insects a night, which means farmers can use fewer pesticides. They are also pollinators that help repopulate plants and maintain forests.
"We need to do what we can to prevent more bats from contracting white-nose syndrome while they are hibernating," said Rob Mies, executive director for the Organization for Bat Conservation. "Researchers are working around the clock to find a way to stop the transmission from occurring in caves. This disease is occurring at a rapidly escalating rate and if a solution is not found soon, many bat species could face extinction."
Artificial stalactites give hibernating bats more surface area from which to hang, thus spreading them out around the cave. Creation of the stalactite is simple; robots that apply a structural adhesive that helps join Corvette body parts are purged regularly to keep the adhesive applicator clean and free of dried material. This dried gunk is the perfect shape for a stalactite, and its use in artificial bat caves avoids sending it to landfills.
Bat projects have been a part of GM for several years, examples of GM's industry-leading 26 certified wildlife habitat programs and penchant for creative recycling.
The company also creates bat houses out of scrap Chevrolet Volt battery covers that can hold up to 150 little brown bats each. John Bradburn, GM global manager of waste reduction, came up with the reuse idea, transforming the difficult-to-recycle material into nesting structures. So far, 232 of these bat houses have been installed on its properties and in other private and public lands in the United States. A tweak of the design has led to 368 specially designed structures to serve wood ducks, owls, bluebirds and scaly-sided mergansers – an endangered species.
"We think of waste as just a resource out of place and work hard to keep materials in use," said Bradburn. "Just like our stalactite concept or our bat houses, we seek out creative reuse projects that touch other elements of sustainability such as community engagement and wildlife preservation."
GM often works with local youth through schools, clubs and recreation centers to put the finishing touches on the nesting boxes.
"It's important to get kids involved in these projects, helping them to see things not as they are, but what they can be," said Bradburn.
GM Brownstown Battery Assembly, which generates scrap as it assembles battery packs for the Volt, is one of GM's 122 landfill-free facilities.
For more bat facts and information, visit Save the Bats and National Bat Week on Facebook or read more at www.batcon.org and www.savebats.org/bat-week.
For more information on GM's environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.
About General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
Related Gallery Chevrolet Bat Habitats
- News Source: Hybrid Cars, Green Car Reports, LG Chem, General Motors
- Image Credit: Nissan
- Auto News
- Green
- Plants/Manufacturing
- Chevrolet
- GM
- Nissan
- Electric
- recharge wrapup
By John Beltz Snyder
See also: Nissan Leaf sets another monthly sales record, Chevy Volt remains steady, Nissan Leaf sets another monthly sales record, Chevy Volt remains steady, 2016 Chevy Volt powertrain video teasers.