Zinc Air Power plans Midwestern research and pilot production facilities; move aimed at producing pilot battery for electric vehicles by 1996.Canton, Michigan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 20, 1995--Zinc Air Power Corporation announced today plans to create an applications laboratory and pilot plant in Michigan or Ohio to develop and produce a battery capable of powering electric vehicles on a commercial basis. The battery will be based on electrically rechargeable zinc air A battery technology that provides more charge per pound or size than nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride and does not suffer from the memory effect. It uses a carbon membrane that absorbs oxygen, a zinc plate and potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte. battery technology developed in conjunction with Dreisbach Electromotive electromotive /elec·tro·mo·tive/ (-mo´tiv) causing electric activity to be propagated along a conductor. (DEMI) of Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara is a city in California, United States. It is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 92,325. . The new facility will mean that Zinc Air Power will be employing two laboratories, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Dana Drescher, the company's president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "The Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. facility will continue to focus on the basic research necessary to meet the long-term performance standards for electric vehicles set by the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium. Our Midwestern facility will focus directly on adapting zinc air technology to the needs of individual automotive industry The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. In 2006, more than 69 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide. customers." Zinc Air Power, which has already hired eight researchers and applications engineers to work at the new facility, plans to raise that number to more than 25 by the end of 1995. The company expects its pilot plant to be capable of producing batteries for test by the automotive companies by early 1996. The company is currently reviewing potential sites in Southeastern Michigan and Northwestern Ohio suitable for a combined laboratory and pilot plant with up to 40,000 to 50,000 square feet. The company is seeking financing for the pilot plant through a private placement. Commenting on the expansion, Drescher said, "Battery trials with test autos, continued improvement in battery performance in the DEMI- Santa Barbara laboratory, and encouragement from the automotive industry have convinced us that electrically rechargeable zinc air technology is ready for commercialization. "We believe that only electrically rechargeable zinc air power offers the optimum combination of low cost, safety, weight, range and power to be commercially viable." Zinc air batteries have already powered several milestone vehicles, including: A Chrysler minivan that ran 223 miles on a charge at an average speed of 45 mph. A Honda Civic The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. It was introduced in July 1972 as a two-door coupe, followed by a three-door hatchback version that September. With the transverse engine placement of its 1169 cc engine and front-wheel drive, like the British Mini, the that ran nearly 200 km in two hours to win the first electric stock car race. A Honda Civic that ran 251 miles in traffic on a single charge. Zinc Air Power Corp. (formerly known as DEMI Vehicle Systems) was formed in Cleveland in 1993 to commercialize the advanced rechargeable zinc air battery for electric vehicles. The company relocated its headquarters to Michigan in 1994. CONTACT: Michael Lenk, Vice President, Zinc Air Power Corp., 313-454-5450; or Thomas Gibson of The Gibson Network, 216-881-9191; or Roger Hippsley of Edward Howard & Co., 216-781-2400, for Zinc Air Power Corporation |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion