DUBAI — The operator of the Boeing 747 cargo aircraft which went down inside Nad Al Sheba military camp area here last month, explained on Sunday it was assessing hearth dangers posed by lithium batteries, based on a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report on Friday. The crash killed both pilots.
The FAA had stated in its alert that the plane’s cargo contained huge quantities of these batteries. "We note too that United Parcel Service (UPS) Flight 006 crashed inside United Arab Emirates on September 3, 2010. Investigation from the crash is still underway, as well as the cause with the crash has not been determined. We are aware, nevertheless, that the plane’s cargo did include big quantities of lithium batteries and believe it prudent to advise operators of that fact."
Speaking to Khaleej Times, UPS Public Relations Manager Mike Mangeot, said the firm was in the process of analysing the authority’s report on fireplace dangers of lithium batteries.
"Speaking broadly, UPS has a standing lithium battery working group and an in-flight hearth mitigation group which are already looking at difficulties similar to those outlined inside Safo (Security Alert for Operators)." Mangeot stated the corporation would not be drawn into speculating the result in of the crash when an official inquiry was being conducted by a team headed by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority and included professionals from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, FAA and UPS.
It's crucial to understand that the investigation into the Dubai accident has not mentioned a result in, and may possibly not for quite some time, until experts have been able to conduct a thorough analysis of the facts, he explained.
"We commend the FAA for its drive to improve lithium battery safety and have a long track record of operating with them to improve security on industry-wide concerns like this," he added.
The Wall Street Journal had first reported that lithium batteries could have stoked the fire on board the ill-fated flight.
Smoke was reported from the cockpit along with the two pilots mentioned they were unable to maintain altitude, according to an GCAA statement earlier.
The FAA said lithium metal batteries were highly flammable and capable of ignition. "This might be caused when a battery short circuits, is overcharged, is heated to extreme temperatures, is mishandled, or is otherwise defective.’
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
MacBook firmware update addresses battery problems
Should you have a Macbook from 2007-2008, run your Software program Update. Apple has released a firmware patch that clears up some bugs with your battery. The bug doesn’t affect everybody, so you may possibly not have noticed it, but if you’ve switched to an L-shaped MagSafe adapter recently, and you can’t get your laptop to charge, this need to fix your problem.
You may get the update via your Computer software Update, or by downloading the installer (Macbook or Macbook Pro).
I seem to be having a comparable dilemma with my early 2009 Macbook Pro. The MacSafe adapter’s LED indicator doesn’t light up anymore. I haven’t been able to figure it out. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to let me know within the comments.
You may get the update via your Computer software Update, or by downloading the installer (Macbook or Macbook Pro).
I seem to be having a comparable dilemma with my early 2009 Macbook Pro. The MacSafe adapter’s LED indicator doesn’t light up anymore. I haven’t been able to figure it out. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to let me know within the comments.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Competition for Lithium Battery Technology Heating Up
Toshiba Corp is targeting greater than ten percent in the rechargeable battery market share in five years, with an ambitious eye for a considerable distribution in the surging but extremely competitive sector.
Toshiba’s strategy to help boost the company’s development and weather the impact of volatile costs for chips is focused on the international appetite for batteries to power hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electrical vehicles. Toshiba has made the company one of its focus areas but increasing demand is also making competition fiercer, with Toshiba and its Japanese peers, including current leader Sanyo Electrical Co, NEC and Hitachi, facing South Korea’s LG Chem and other rising rivals around the world.
“We would like to expand our business with the hope of securing a greater than 10 percent share (with the global lithium-ion battery market),” Toshiba chief executive Norio Sasaki stated at a news conference held in Kashiwazaki, northern Japan, to celebrate the completion of its second lithium-ion battery factory.
Toshiba will start out mass-producing its rechargeable SCiB (Super Charge ion Battery) in February 2011 with an initial capability to make 500,000 cells per month and it plans to double that by March 2012. Toshiba manufacturers its SCiB at another facility in central Japan, which has a monthly capacity of 150,000 cells.
In April Honda Motor Co. introduced plans to adopt Toshiba’s SCiB for its electrical motorcycles and Mitsubishi Corp is jointly developing battery systems containing the SCiB with Toshiba for electric cars.
Related International Developments
Last week, billionaire Warren Buffett confirmed his support and investment in Chinese automaker BYD Co., announcing the company will be a leader in electrical cars. The carmaker is currently dealing with challenges ahead as it tries to address falling sales, as it slashed its 2010 sales outlook by 25 p.c to 600,000 motor vehicles from 800,000 on Aug. four. The fabled oracle of Omaha reported, “BYD is a young and promising business experiencing dynamic growth. BYD will play a leading role inside the future.” Berkshire Hathaway owns 10 p.c of your automaker by way of MidAmerican Power Holdings, based in Des Moines, Iowa.
The corporation in fact began as a battery maker, founded by China’s richest man, Wang Chuanfu, and entered the automobile market in 2003 mass producing the world’s first plug-in hybrid five years later. The carmaker ideas to start out selling the E6 electric car in the U.S. this 12 months and in Europe next yr. The E6 will take six hours for a full charge and will run for greater than 300 kilometers per charge in cruising mode.
BYD is adding electrical vehicles and plug-in hybrids as rivals for instance General Motors and Nissan plan to introduce battery-powered models in China. The nation, the world’s biggest polluter, is offering buyer incentives for fuel-efficient cars to help cut emissions.
In June, the government mentioned it would offer as a lot as $7,400 towards the buy of plug-in hybrid models and up to 60,000 yuan for autos that run only on batteries in 5 Chinese cities on a trial basis. The National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner has announced the nation may subsidize purchases of at least four million energy-efficient automobiles by 2012.
Mining News
Galaxy Resources has produced its first lithium concentrate from the Mount Cattlin operation, in Western Australia. On Tuesday the company stated that the production start-up was on schedule and followed the successful commissioning with the crushing circuit and heavy media plant. It's expected the Mount Cattlin mine and minerals plant will produce 137, 000 tonnes per 12 months of 6 % lithium oxide spodumene concentrate, which Galaxy would add value to by building the Jiangsu downstream lithium processing facility, in China. The plant will have the capability to generate 17, 000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate that's suitable for use in manufacturing battery cathode materials. On Monday, Galaxy announced that it would raise $30 million from Chinese investments, and said that it may possibly list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Toshiba’s strategy to help boost the company’s development and weather the impact of volatile costs for chips is focused on the international appetite for batteries to power hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electrical vehicles. Toshiba has made the company one of its focus areas but increasing demand is also making competition fiercer, with Toshiba and its Japanese peers, including current leader Sanyo Electrical Co, NEC and Hitachi, facing South Korea’s LG Chem and other rising rivals around the world.
“We would like to expand our business with the hope of securing a greater than 10 percent share (with the global lithium-ion battery market),” Toshiba chief executive Norio Sasaki stated at a news conference held in Kashiwazaki, northern Japan, to celebrate the completion of its second lithium-ion battery factory.
Toshiba will start out mass-producing its rechargeable SCiB (Super Charge ion Battery) in February 2011 with an initial capability to make 500,000 cells per month and it plans to double that by March 2012. Toshiba manufacturers its SCiB at another facility in central Japan, which has a monthly capacity of 150,000 cells.
In April Honda Motor Co. introduced plans to adopt Toshiba’s SCiB for its electrical motorcycles and Mitsubishi Corp is jointly developing battery systems containing the SCiB with Toshiba for electric cars.
Related International Developments
Last week, billionaire Warren Buffett confirmed his support and investment in Chinese automaker BYD Co., announcing the company will be a leader in electrical cars. The carmaker is currently dealing with challenges ahead as it tries to address falling sales, as it slashed its 2010 sales outlook by 25 p.c to 600,000 motor vehicles from 800,000 on Aug. four. The fabled oracle of Omaha reported, “BYD is a young and promising business experiencing dynamic growth. BYD will play a leading role inside the future.” Berkshire Hathaway owns 10 p.c of your automaker by way of MidAmerican Power Holdings, based in Des Moines, Iowa.
The corporation in fact began as a battery maker, founded by China’s richest man, Wang Chuanfu, and entered the automobile market in 2003 mass producing the world’s first plug-in hybrid five years later. The carmaker ideas to start out selling the E6 electric car in the U.S. this 12 months and in Europe next yr. The E6 will take six hours for a full charge and will run for greater than 300 kilometers per charge in cruising mode.
BYD is adding electrical vehicles and plug-in hybrids as rivals for instance General Motors and Nissan plan to introduce battery-powered models in China. The nation, the world’s biggest polluter, is offering buyer incentives for fuel-efficient cars to help cut emissions.
In June, the government mentioned it would offer as a lot as $7,400 towards the buy of plug-in hybrid models and up to 60,000 yuan for autos that run only on batteries in 5 Chinese cities on a trial basis. The National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner has announced the nation may subsidize purchases of at least four million energy-efficient automobiles by 2012.
Mining News
Galaxy Resources has produced its first lithium concentrate from the Mount Cattlin operation, in Western Australia. On Tuesday the company stated that the production start-up was on schedule and followed the successful commissioning with the crushing circuit and heavy media plant. It's expected the Mount Cattlin mine and minerals plant will produce 137, 000 tonnes per 12 months of 6 % lithium oxide spodumene concentrate, which Galaxy would add value to by building the Jiangsu downstream lithium processing facility, in China. The plant will have the capability to generate 17, 000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate that's suitable for use in manufacturing battery cathode materials. On Monday, Galaxy announced that it would raise $30 million from Chinese investments, and said that it may possibly list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)