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New battery could steer China into lead in electric-car mark

The Vancouver Sun -- However, it's the battery in the E6 that is causing the buzz in the decidedly dejected auto industry. Instead of being made with lithium ion -- which is expensive, increasingly hard to come by, environmentally unfriendly, and potentially dangerous in a crash -- BYD has devised a battery that uses ferrous ion, which is cheap, plentiful and green. If it turns out to be as functional as the Chinese company claims, it could be the breakthrough to bring electric cars into the mainstream.
Warren Buffett thinks it is. The American financier invested $230 million in BYD last year.
BYD -- the Pinyin initials for its Chinese name, but now the company says they also stand for its motto, Build Your Dreams -- boasts the best-selling gas-guzzling sedan in the China market and is making inroads with the


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Submitted Jul 04, 2009 By: Maurus32
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REPLIES (newest first)
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Cuzilla
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:51:38 AM

1. The link to the article does not work.

2. The "ferrous ion" is nothing new. I refer the reader to the Edison Cell battery of over 100 years ago! There are other types of Ferrous cell reactions but thye main problem of all batteries is weight.
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rvn4me
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:50:14 AM

They have to be worried about the cost because they sure arent worried about the environment.
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dollarwatcher
Champion Author Wisconsin

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:49:24 AM

Technology is advancing.
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gaswatcherCA
All-Star Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:48:06 AM

You can make fun of China all you want, you forget they OWN the United States Of America, more and more every day, thanks to the Messiah, Obama. Do you even understand what that means. Plus they are buying companies here right and left, you might want a job at one of those companies, make fun of them at that time. Jokes on you.
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kruk
Champion Author London

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:47:45 AM

seems like investment overseas is more secure than in US - after GM and Chrysler fiasko - would anybody invest in american company - NO
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must87searcher
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:47:08 AM

New ideas are just poping up.

It is no surprice, with the conditions of the market today. Changes are nessary!!
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Somis1
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:45:21 AM

The world needs a fast charging battery the size of a typical gas tank and with the same amount of energy, but we haven't seen it yet.
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Phzuyx
Sophomore Author Wichita

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:45:09 AM

one word,
hydrogen
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CallJeffCa
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:43:54 AM

Hmmm...is the technological lead moving to China?
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JadeKY
Champion Author Louisville

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:43:52 AM

Put some money into earth-magnet generators and we will not have a big recycling problem in the future.
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DeepInOhio
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:43:02 AM

The world had best starting to speak Chinese.
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DrivingFool2
Champion Author Wisconsin

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:42:55 AM

What! China is going GREEN????
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spunky4443
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:42:24 AM

Well if China had their Wife's pushing their cars, that would work better than a new battery.
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reb4
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:40:39 AM

Good luck china. I am sure they are doing it to be green...
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StuCoFromage37
All-Star Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:40:37 AM

I still think that electric cars are going to completely replace gas cars someday.
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VetteBlue
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:39:31 AM

All talk so far. Produce something then talk.
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Lonewolftx
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:38:47 AM

Would be a great inovation . . .
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tazdriver
Champion Author Huntsville

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:38:42 AM

In China copyright means copy it right, they have to seal technology to lead in anything.
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greatscot08
All-Star Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:38:06 AM

All my investing in China has been in Chinese food.......guess that's why Warren B. is where he is and why I'm not........US technology needs to follow this closely, if this really takes off as the automobile propulsion system of the future we could find ourselves trading our dependency on foreign oil for a new dependency on foreign battery systems.....
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TXGasPriceSpy
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:35:56 AM

I'm thinking about going into the battery business, everything from triple A on up. Wish me luck.
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goldilox88
Champion Author Montreal

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:35:41 AM

leave it to China... but I do not trust their shortcuts and innovations. Spells recall.
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cathevan
Champion Author Manitoba

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:35:31 AM

interesting
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SgtWalleye
Veteran Author Iowa

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:34:51 AM

I'll have some egg drop soup with that
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mk9999
Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:34:47 AM

We need affordable electric cars. Maybe this will be it.
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TeachR06
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:34:33 AM

sounds like some country is moving forward with something worthwhile.
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marinasgrandpa
All-Star Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:32:38 AM

the technology had to come from some-where-and when was the last time Warren Buffett lost money?
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j4_
Rookie Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:30:27 AM

A little googling will take you to some interesting articles on batteries that use iron. Nickel Iron Batteries (Thomas Edison) are not commercially manufactured in the USA after Exide bought the Edison Storage Battery Company. Check Wikipedia for Nickel-iron battery.
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captngasTN
Champion Author Tennessee

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:29:23 AM

Maybe they'll take the lead out of their paint and use in batteries.
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saveongasNC
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:28:52 AM

Go for it!
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thwadi
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:28:32 AM

All improvements are welcome.
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throttle
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:27:32 AM

IF it turns out to be as functional as the Chinese claim......
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Theczecho
Champion Author Long Island

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:26:43 AM

This I have to see.
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AvantiMick
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:26:21 AM

Good Old Billionaire Buffett....investing his money in China. Bet he shops at Wal Mart!! He could do so much good with his money in the US!!
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jd2009
Champion Author Honolulu

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:25:12 AM

Great idea ... seems like China is taking over everything
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tankneverfull
Champion Author Charlotte

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:24:35 AM

If Buffett thinks it's good then maybe somebody in our auto industry ought to be taking a look.
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jmg144
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:23:40 AM

If Buffet invests in this company, it probably will be a success.
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Zuman
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:21:42 AM

I'm sure china will produce a quality product like there toys with lead and baby formula and so on......
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BHSJackson
Veteran Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:21:22 AM

Great, more American money going to the chinese.
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armstrmb
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:19:17 AM

Has any significant auto manufacturer done anything with this technology?
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Lengas
Champion Author Gary

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:18:43 AM

Can't read the full article. If it is a good idea go for it.
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DABEE1073
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:18:40 AM

DON'T BUY CHINA MADE PRODUCTS.
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unloquacious
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:17:34 AM


ah-so...
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gasman50
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:17:03 AM

Interesting....Time will tell
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ironbox_sara
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:15:33 AM

Let me know when it hits the market.
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BumbleBeeOK
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:15:10 AM

Cornpopper??? Thats cute.
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Pozole
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:10:41 AM

...ah, iron top battery, cornpopper...
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abuck
Champion Author Pittsburgh

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:07:42 AM

We really need to make sure we have things in place to get ahold of the lithium. If we can ensure that we get the lithium, then we have a better handle on things.
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CharlieC08
Champion Author Colorado

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:07:13 AM

might be on to something.
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Marson
Champion Author Scranton

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:06:30 AM

Battery Technology is the key to the future of electtric cars.
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YKK
Rookie Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:06:19 AM

Give me the "copper-top."
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Yonkers111
Champion Author Scranton

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:05:01 AM

We should reverse engineer the battery and build it here.
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LetemEatCake
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:04:26 AM

Wegman from Twin Cities...

The article can be read by typing in the first couple of words from the title into the newspapers search box. Worth the read.

I believe your thinking about the Chinese is outdated. Today's young Chinese is very well educated, very focused, and very innovative. In fact, they work harder than we do routinely. Warren Buffett with his $230M investment doesn't make too many mistakes!

This battery could be the breakthrough the EV has been needing. More power to them!

[Edited by: LetemEatCake at 7/4/2009 9:05:11 AM EST]
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