Aug 25 2010
Ford Motor Company, a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of automobiles, has announced that the company is adopting wireless technology to test and refine the advanced lithium ion battery systems, thereby making the new electric fleets more efficient.
Two wireless monitoring methods are used by the company to improve capability and durability. With the help of a remote battery and vehicle test monitoring system, the test electric vehicle’s performance information is updated by the Ford Engineers at the same time as they receive the data. Whenever they are informed by email regarding the chances of software upgradation, they simultaneously update it on the lithium ion battery systems present in electric cars as well as in the lab.
These methods have rigorously reduced the idle time of the vehicle and also enabled FORD to double its lithium ion battery lab testing capability. Various field tests focused on the battery’s ability to recharge under various environmental conditions are also performed by the company to establish various computational step by step procedures for allowing fast and effective recharging with minimum cell degeneration. This in turn will help to determine the optimum recharge rate, thereby translating into an increased battery life.
“Ford's global electrification plan”, which is supported by the Advanced Battery and Fleet Vehicle Research, has ambitious plans for releasing five new electric cars before the end of 2013, including the Transit Connect Electric ,Focus Electric passenger car, a plug in hybrid and two next-generation hybrid electric vehicles in Europe.
According to Sherif Marakby, Ford’s Director of Electrification Program and Engineering, wireless monitoring has enabled quick retrieval of real time data, thereby helping in uninterrupted improvements.
It was reported by the company that their future hybrid and electric vehicles will feature these new lithium-ion battery systems, which can deliver twice the energy than the traditional nickel-metal-hydride systems. The new batteries will also require less space in the vehicles.
Source: http://www.ford.com