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Ovonic NiMH Battery Featured at EVS-17

19 October 2000

Ovonic NiMH Battery Featured at EVS-17

3,000 Miles in a Production Electric Vehicle for Only $60 Worth of Electricity

    MONTREAL, Oct. 18 Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries,
invented and patented by Ovonic Battery Company, Inc. of Troy, Michigan,
(Ovonic Battery), a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD)
, are clearly the batteries of choice among manufacturers of
electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs, HEVs) which were on display, and
available for ride and drive, at this year's International Electric Vehicle
Symposium and Exposition, EVS-17, held in Montreal, Canada.  The NiMH battery
has been selected because of its high energy (more than twice that of lead
acid), high power, long cycle life, maintenance-free and environmentally
friendly design.
    Some participants at EVS-17 came by electric vehicles powered with Ovonic
NiMH batteries -- some driven from as far away as Los Angeles, California.
Two General Motors EV-1 electric vehicles made the 3,000-mile trip in seven
days.  One vehicle was driven by Mr. David Swan and Mr. William Korthof; the
other, by Mr. Greg Hanson.  All three men are avid EV supporters.  The cars
were driven on interstate and secondary roads, at normal highway speeds
staying with traffic flow.
    With a significantly more aggressive driving schedule than typically used
for electric vehicles, this demonstrates the dependability and reliability of
modern production electric vehicles and the capability of high-energy, long-
life Ovonic NiMH batteries.  Mr. Swan, commenting on the trip, said, "It was
an enjoyable drive, and recharging at overnight stops and during lunch breaks
provided a driving range of 120-160 miles per charge, thanks to the very
efficient vehicle and its high-energy Ovonic NiMH batteries."  To minimize
recharging times during the day, battery charging was limited to about 80% of
full battery capacity.  The entire cross-country drive used $60 worth of
electricity, or 2 cents per mile (assuming 8 cents per kWh and vehicle usage
of 250 wh/mile).  "You would not normally use an EV for this trip," said Mr.
Hanson,  "but it proves how reliable and dependable the Ovonic NiMH batteries
are."  The vehicles were on display throughout the symposium which concluded
today.