Seeking another source; Companies in the Detroit Region work towards alternative energy

Detroiter, May, 2008 by Melissa Armstrong

Regional Detroit residents are thinking more about alternative energy these days for there major reasons. First, and most visibly, energy prices are climbing, especially for petroleum-based fuels, both because of shortfalls in supply and constrictions in distribution networks. Second, concerns about global warming have focused attention on the large emissions of [CO.sub.2] a greenhouse gas, from our production and use of energy. Finally, alternative energy is a natural fit for a region so closely tied to the automotive industry. And the industry's applicability beyond automobiles addresses the Detroit Region's critical need to diversify our economy while still playing to our strengths.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

In the Detroit Region, the term 'alternative energy' is often linked to the research and development of new powertrain technologies utilizing alternative forms of fuel. But as an industry, alternative energy encompasses a wide range of new energy sources as well as distribution and environmental technologies. According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan is focusing on the development of markets for such alternatives as celluiosic biofuel, wind generation, advanced batteries and solar cells.

The U.S. Automakers

Each of the Detroit Three is busy developing the technologies that will someday reduce or eliminate the autornobile's reliance on fossil fuels for power Early research and development no all-electric vehicles has been diversified to include hydrogen fuel cells, gas-electric hybrids, biofucls and other combinations of alternative fuel powertrain systems.

All three are working to improve the efficiency of the internal combustion engine - both gas and diesel - with a variety of advanced technologies, increasing production of vehicles that operate on biofuels; and development and producing a portfolio of electrically driven vehicles that includes hybrids, plug in hybrids, battery electric extended-range vehicles and hydrogen combustion and fuel cell vehicles.

As each is quick to point out, the future of alternative energy in the automotive industry is a moving target these days. And the target is likely to be different in various parts of the world. What will catch on in Michigan may be different from what will catch on in China, France or Brazil. For this reason, the Detroit Three are trying to remain flexible and open-minded.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Numerous options are currently available utilizing gas-electric hybrid technology, flex-fuel capabilities and fuel efficient diesel engines, with more in the works. Meanwhile our once-certain hydrogen-fueled future continues to evolve. Many view the hydrogen internal combustion engine as the first step, with hydrogen fuel cells coming later. Regardless of how hydrogen is used to power the automobile, the means to manufacture and distribute hydrogen to consumers is a major hurdle to be overcome.

In addition to the Detroit Three

Aside from the three U.S. automakers, Detroit is home to a large group of entrepreneurial companies working on. various forms of alternative energy technologies for the automotive industry, Rochester Hills' Compact Power, Inc. recently won a $12.9 million contract from the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium of the United States Council for Automotive Research, LLC (whose members are General Motors, Ford Motor. Co. and Chrysler, LLC). The contract was awarded in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy to further develop lithium-ion batteries for the automotive market. Advanced lithium-ion batteries have the potential to pack a lot of energy in a small space. Hybrid vehicle technology seems to be here to stay, and lithium-ion batteries could prove to be a substantial improvement to the existing battery technology.

Another regional Detroit company, BluWav Systems, LLC, recently received $1.2 million from the federal government to continue research and development of an energy storage system for hydrogen-based and hybrid vehicles. The system would store unused energy to provide the vehicle with an electric only compatiable with most commuter drive cycles.

Other Applications

Although most of the Detroit Region's nearly 200 alternative energy companies concentrate, at least in part, on applications in the automotive industry, there are plenty that do not T/J Technologies, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures advanced materials and devices for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. The company has been awarded contracts from the Army, Air Force, NASA, Navy, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as commercial companies.

Located in Ann Arbor, T/J Technologies is capitalizing on the University of Michigan's leadership in nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a branch of engineering at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular range of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers. T/J Technologies' nano and micro structured materials specifically address the concerns of performance, cost and reliability of batteries and fuel cells.