A123 Systems

A123 Systems

Type	Public (NASDAQ: AONE)
Founded	2001
Founder(s)	Yet-Ming Chiang, Bart Riley and Ric Fulop
Headquarters	Waltham, MA, USA
Key people	David Vieau (President and CEO)
Products	Electric car batteries, batteries for various energy grid systems and commercial products
Website	A123Systems.com

A123 Systems (NASDAQ: AONE)^[1] develops and manufactures advanced lithium-ion (lithium iron phosphate) batteries and battery systems for the transportation, electric grid and commercial markets. The company has about 2,500 employees globally and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.^[2] Founded in 2001 by Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang, Dr. Bart Riley and Ric Fulop, A123 Systems’ proprietary Nanophosphate technology is built on breakthrough nanoscale materials initially developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2009, the company was included on the Guardian's "Global Cleantech 100" list.^[2] A123 was also selected to Technology Review Magazine’s list of the 50 Most Innovative Companies 2011, which identifies the world's most innovative technology companies highlights businesses whose work is changing industries and lives.^[3]

1 History
2 Transportation
3 Electric Grid
4 Commercial
5 Investments
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

History

In November 2005, A123 Systems announced a new higher power, faster recharging lithium-ion battery system^[4] based on doped nanophosphate materials licensed from MIT.

In December 2006, the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the company a $15 million development contract to optimize A123 Systems' proprietary doped nano-phosphate battery technology for hybrid electric vehicle applications with a focus on power, abuse tolerance, durability and cost. USABC is an organization composed of Chrysler LLC Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation.^[5]

In May 2007, BAE Systems announced that, starting in 2008, it would offer A123 Systems' lithium-ion battery technology as part of its HybriDrive Propulsion System used in the 2008 version of the Daimler Orion VII hybrid electric buses. As of September 7, 2009, more than 3,000 of the buses were in service.^[6]

In May 2008, the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the company a $12.5 million contract to develop its lithium ion battery technology for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.^[7]

On March 5, 2008, General Electric, A123 Systems, and Think Global announced that the three firms had entered a partnership to enable global electrification of transportation. GE invested 20 million in A123 Systems to help them roll out batteries for Think. A123 Systems and Think at the same time signed a commercial supply agreement. The partnership was announced at the 78th annual international Motor Show in Geneva.^[8]^[9]^[10]

In January 2009, the company announced that it had applied to the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVMLP) for US $1.84 billion in direct loans to support the construction of new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in the United States, locating the first plant in southeast Michigan near Detroit.^[11] The company later won a $249 million grant to build production facilities in Romulus and Livonia, Mich.^[12]

In April 2009, Chrysler LLC announced a contract with A123 to supply batteries to their Envi (automobile) batteries.^[13]

The company raised $380 million going public on the NASDAQ stock exchange with ticker symbol AONE on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 priced at $13.50 per share.^[14]

In December 2009, A123 formed a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation(SAIC), the largest automaker in China. This was the first JV between a Chinese automaker and a non-Chinse battery supplier. The new venture is called Advanced Traction Battery Systems (ATBS). ^[15]

In August 2010, A123's co-founder Professor Yet-Ming Chiang spun a new company out of A123 called 24M Technologies, which makes technology that combines concepts in current lithium ion batteries with flow batteries, where tanks of liquid electrolytes combine to create an electrical current.^[16]

In September 2010, A123 openened the largest lithium ion battery manufacturing facility in North America in Livonia, Mich. When fully operational, the factory is expected to be capable of producing battery packs for the equivalent of up to 30,000 electric cars per year.^[17]

In March 2011, A123 received its third contract from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): an $8 million advanced battery development contract for A123 to continue developing its Nanophosphate® lithium ion battery systems to meet USABC’s target application for a Power-Assist Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PAHEV) Low-Energy Energy Storage System (LEESS).^[18]

Transportation

A123 Systems cells have garnered interest in the automotive market due to their power, safety and durability features.^[19]

Passenger vehicles

Fisker Karma, a plug-in hybrid.

Tokyo, Japan taxis. Better Place is running a demonstration proj ect with three electric taxis powered by A123 Systems batteries.^[20]

The Roewe 750 hybrid, the Roewe 550 plug-in hybrid and a yet-to-be-announced Roewe-brand all-electric vehicle from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), the largest automaker in China^[21]

Chevrolet Spark EV, a city electric car to be produced by General Motors and scheduled to be sold in low volumes at select U.S. (including California) and global markets beginning in 2013.^[22]^[23]

In May 2011, A123 introduced a lithium ion 12V engine starter battery designed as a lighter-weight, longer-lasting and more environmentally friendly drop-in replacement for lead acid batteries.^[24] A123's A123's Nanophosphate® Engine Start Battery was selected to R&D Magazine’s 2011 R&D 100, which salutes the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year.^[25]

Commercial truck, bus, and off-highway

Navistar International EStar: Electric Vehicle(EV) delivery vehicle

Daimler Buses North America (Orion VII). The number one selling hybrid electric bus in the world. Operating in New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Dallas and other major cities.

Eaton: Plug-in hybrid Trouble Truck based on Ford F550 [1]

Smith Electric Vehicles Newton, an all-electric zero-emission deliery truck ^[26]

ALTe, a maker of range-extended hybrid electric powertrain systems targeting the light-duty truck market^[27]

Racing

Formula 1 KERS System^[28]

Killacycle, formerly the worlds quickest electric vehicle, capable of accelerating from 0–100 kilometres per hour (0–62 mph) in less than 1 second.^[29]

Ohio State University's Buckeye Bullet, an electric landspeed racer powered by A123's batteries, broke the international electric vehicle speed record in August 2010, reaching 307.666 m.p.h.^[30]

In May 2011, A123 signed an agreement with Mavizen, a leader in electric motorcycle racing technology, by which Mavizen will make A123's battery technology available for TTXGP racing and other two-wheel motorsports.^[31]

Electric Grid

In November 2008, A123 entered into the electric grid market by delivering its first battery energy storage system to AES Corporation for use at several AES substations in Southern California.^[32]

In November 2009, A123 announced the commercial operation of a 12MW operating reserve project at the AES Gener Los Andes substation in the Atacama Desert in Chile.^[33]

In December 2010, AES Corporation secured a loan from the United States Department of Energy to fund a 20MW frequency regulation energy storage system using A123's battery technology at the AES Westover power plant in Johnson City, N.Y.^[34]

In February 2011, A123 announced a second project in Chile with AES Gener--a 20MW operating reserve energy storage system to be installed at a new 500MW power plant in Northern Chile called Angamos.^[35]

In July 2011, A123 announced a contract to supply a 500kW advanced energy storage system to Dongfang Electric, the third largest manufacturer of wind turbines in China and the country's largest exporter of power equipment, as a demonstration project to help evaluate how advanced energy storage can address the challenges associated with the rapid growth of wind power in China, where only about 72% of the country's wind turbines are connected to the power grid, according to the China Power Union.^[36]^[37]

In October 2011, AES Corporation unveiled a 32MW energy storage systems featuring A123's battery technology at the Laurel Mountain Wind Farm in West Virginia that will be used for renewable integration and frequency regulation. It is the largest battery energy storage system of its kind currently in operation.^[38]

Commercial

Black & Decker uses A123 systems batteries in its VPX and DeWalt power tool lines.^[39]

Investments

The company has invested in Fisker Automotive's Karma with Ace Investments and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.^[40]

The company has formed a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive to manufacture its batteries in China.^[41]

References

^ http://evworld.com/currents.cfm?jid=23
^ ^a ^b Global Cleantech 100 The Guardian, 8 September 2009.
^ "The 50 Most Innovative Companies 2011". http://www.technologyreview.com/tr50/.
^ EV World "A123Systems Introduces New Generation Lithium-Ion Battery"
^ "USABC Awards $15 Million Battery Technology Development Contract to A123Systems". http://www.uscar.org/guest/article_view.php?articles_id=39. Retrieved December 8, 2006.
^ "3,000 Hybrid Buses: Daimler Buses North America Reaches Sales Milestone". September 7, 2009. http://www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-1043891-1-1234972-1-0-0-0-0-0-8-7145-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html. Retrieved August, 2010.
^ "USABC AWARDS $12.5 MILLION BATTERY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT TO A123SYSTEMS". http://www.uscar.org/guest/article_view.php?articles_id=210. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
^ GE press release
^ Think press release
^ A123 Systems press release
^ http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54461
^ "President Obama Announces $2.4 Billion in Grants to Accelerate the Manufacturing and Deployment of the Next Generation of U.S. Batteries and Electric Vehicles". http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/24-Billion-in-Grants-to-Accelerate-the-Manufacturing-and-Deployment-of-the-Next-Generation-of-US-Batteries-and-Electric-Vehicles/. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
^ http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/06/chrysler-to-use-a123-cells-in-its-electric-vehicles/
^ Hargreaves, Steve (September 24, 2009). "AONE IPO charges car battery market". CNN. http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/24/news/companies/a123_ipo/index.htm.
^ "A123 Systems, SAIC to set up China car battery JV". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/12/18/a123-saic-idUSTOE5BG08120091218. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
^ LaMonica, Martin. "A123 spinoff 24M funded for novel energy storage". http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20013609-54.html. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
^ "U.S. Li-ion battery production ramping up". Automotive Engineering International. http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/8863. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ "USABC AWARDS $8 MILLION ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGY CONTRACT TO A123 SYSTEMS". http://www.uscar.org/guest/news/493/Press-Release-USABC-AWARDS-8-MILLION-ADVANCED-BATTERY-TECHNOLOGY-CONTRACT-TO-A123-SYSTEMS. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
^ http://liionbms.com/php/cells.php#a123
^ Umali, Claire M. (April, 29 2010). "In Tokyo, taxis are going electric too". http://ecoseed.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7028%3AIn-Tokyo%2C-taxis-are-going-electric-too&catid=1149%3Agreen-transportation-electric-vehicles&Itemid=667&lang=en. Retrieved May, 2010.
^ Motavalli, Jim. "A123 Batteries Slated for Chinese Electric Car". The New York Times "Wheels" blog. The New York Times Company. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/a123-batteries-slated-for-chinese-electric-car/.
^ Jonathan Schultz (2011-1--12). "Chevrolet to Sell Purely Electric Spark Hatchback in U.S.". The New York Times. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/chevrolet-to-sell-purely-electric-spark-hatchback-in-u-s/?ref=automobiles. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
^ "Chevrolet to produce Spark battery electric vehicle for US and global markets starting in 2013 with A123 Systems pack; EN-V gets a Chevrolet badge". Green Car Congress. 2011-10-12. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/spark-20111012.html. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
^ "12-volt battery gets a makeover as automakers shift to more electric parts". Automotive News. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110510/OEM06/110509907/1486. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
^ "R&D Magazine 2011 R&D 100 Winners". http://www.rdmag.com/Awards/RD-100-Awards/2011/06/R-D-100-2011-Winners-Overview/. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
^ "A123 Systems to supply battery modules to Smith Electric Vehicles for electric trucks". Green Car Congress. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/a123-20110509.html.
^ "ALTe SIGNS LONG-TERM SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH A123 SYSTEMS FOR ADVANCED LITHIUM ION BATTERY PACKS". http://www.altellc.com/?p=763.
^ "McLaren Snags First F1 KERS Win; Custom A123Systems Cells with More Than 20,000 W/kg". http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/07/mclaren-20090727.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greencarcongress%2FTrBK+%28Green+Car+Congress%29. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
^ "The KillaCycle - New World Motorcycle Speed Record". http://electricandhybridcars.com/index.php/pages/fastestmotorcycle.html. Retrieved May, 2010.
^ "Ohio State's Buckeye Bullet Smashes World Record For Fastest Electric Car". http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2010-08/ohio-states-buckeye-bullet-smashes-world-record-fastest-electric-car.
^ "Mavizen is proud to announce a supply and distribution agreement with A123 Systems by which Mavizen will offer A123’s advanced Nanophosphate® lithium ion battery technology for two-wheeled high-performance motorsports applications.". Mavizen.com. http://www.mavizen.com/LATEST_NEWS_/A123_partnership.html. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
^ "A123 Systems Gets on the Grid". Earth2Tech.com. GigaOM. http://gigaom.com/cleantech/a123-systems-gets-on-the-grid/. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
^ "AES Installs A123 Energy Storage System in Chile". SustainableBusiness.com. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/19300. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
^ "AES Completes $17M DoE Loan on Energy Storage Project". Energy Storage Trends. http://energystoragetrends.blogspot.com/2010/12/aes-completes-17m-doe-loan-on-a123.html. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
^ "A123 supplies giant battery for 'hybrid power plant'". CNET.com. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20030823-54.html?tag=mncol;2n. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
^ "A123 Systems Hooks Into China’s Grid". The New York Times Company. http://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2011/07/26/26gigaom-a123-systems-hooks-into-chinas-grid-42198.html?partner=rss&emc=rss. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
^ "China's wind power has faulty connection". Asia Times. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/LF16Cb03.html. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
^ "The World's Largest Lithium-Ion Battery Farm Comes Online". Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2011/10/27/worlds-largest-lithium-ion-battery-farm/. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
^ http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=20570&ch=specialsections&sc=batteries&pg=3
^ "$ 115 million private funding hastens Fisker Karma’s development". January 18, 2010. http://ecoseed.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5904%3A%24-115-million-private-funding-hastens-Fisker-Karma%E2%80%99s-development&catid=1150%3Agreen-transportation-hybrid-electric-vehicles&Itemid=668&lang=en. Retrieved May, 2010.
^ Abuelsamid, Sam (December 21, 2009). "A123 Systems and Shanghai Automotive form battery JV". http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/21/a123-systems-and-shanghai-automotive-form-battery-jv/. Retrieved May, 2010.