marcush. wrote:As i understand
A123 Batteries was the supplier to Daimler AMG HPP and went bankrupt in 2012 and was bought by Chinese company Wanxiang...now the question is -what does Chicago play in that ..as A123 is situated in Michigan not illinois....
Quite right. A123 had a ton of US public money pumped into them and ultimately went bust. I've had dealings with them, but can't say exactly how. They're still going and doing business though.
They were trying to push forwards battery technology where the challenge they had was to weld the battery electrolyte in a moisture and oxygen free environment. Leak testing it proved very difficult and A123 batteries have proved very difficult to keep 'leak free'. Put simply, once they leak in any way they are finished.
Other manufacturers and buyers of batteries, Tesla being the biggest example, have felt it was far better to take current, proven and working battery technology (Lithium Ion) and to put the effort in to get it all under control (thermal events!) and reliable.