Actually, the oil giant simply wants to sell a patented technology for the lithium-ion batteries that are expected to power electric hybrids. In fact, Electrovaya plans to use the technology in its low-speed Maya-300 (pictured here), which the company announced it would produce in January.
Exxon's technology is a plastic "separator" film that is already a critical part of lithium-ion batteries. Exxon's version can purportedly withstand temperatures up to 374 degrees, which is some 85 degrees more than its competitors' films can take. This is crucial for a battery technology that currently displays the nasty habit of catching fire and even exploding with little or no provocation.
The Maya-300 is a zero-emissions electric car with a top speed of 25 to 35mph and an extended range of 120 miles on a charge. It's a glorified golf cart, designed for urban settings, college campuses and the like. The separator film component of a lithium-ion battery represents roughly 12% of the total cost of the battery pack. Exxon executives have long scoffed at global warming in public statements. But they certainly recognize a place to make a buck when they see it.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Electrovaya
Photo: Electrovaya
