Clean Break podcast: Hymotion Canada
If you follow the plug-in hybrid trend, then you know that Hymotion Canada is one of the few companies out there that specializes in converting hybrid-electric cars such as the Toyota Prius into plug-in hybrids. My podcast this week is an interview with Ricardo Bazzarella, founder and president of Hymotion, who talks about “plug-in momentum” and important developments in battery technology. He also talks about the significance of GM’s Volt announcement and speaks generally about the benefits of a plug-in approach.
Tyler Hamilton is editor-in-chief of Corporate Knights magazine and a business columnist for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper. In addition to this Clean Break blog, Tyler writes a weekly column of the same name that discusses trends, happenings and innovators in the clean technology and green energy market. This blog is a personal project started in April 2005. It is not an official blog of the newspaper.
February 15th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
This technology while interesting just isn’t viable just yet. The cycle life of the M1 cells is just way too small (mentioned as 800). There is no way any sane person will replace a $12,000 or even $6000 battery every 2 to 4 years. Batteries for plug-ins is a WAY harder challenge than for classic hybrids or pure EV cars. I know A123 are working on a cell more suited to plug-in hybrid applications. Hopefully this will be more viable option in a couple of years.