Breakthrough?, page-484

Swiss watchmaker Swatch pioneers new electric vehicle battery technology




by Paul Maric
SENIOR ROAD TESTER
03 Jan 2017

Swiss watchmaker Swatch is diversifying its brand with a huge step forward in advanced battery technology, eventually destined for electric vehicles.
The Swiss watchmaker owns a 51 per cent stake in Belenos Clean Power, a company formed in 2008 that is dedicated to technologies used within the clean energy chain, with a division focusing specifically on new battery technology. The company is even backed by actor George Clooney, who owns a share in the operation.
According to a report by TwentyTwoTen, Belenos Clean Power’s battery advantage comes from a patented compound used to develop its battery cells. The patented compound uses vanadium rather than rare raw materials, which makes the batteries cheaper to mass produce.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/510858/...eers-new-electric-vehicle-battery-technology/

and wait there's more....

A revolutionary battery by Belenos
mce-anchor
The watchmaker Swatch Group has signed an agreement with the Chinese Geely Group for use of its innovative new battery.
© NZZ am Sonntag (original text in German).
For six years, Belenos, a Swatch Group research company, and ETH Zurich have been developing a new and innovative battery that aims to be at least 30% more powerful than conventional counterparts. The company can now report its first success: in mid-May, Belenos and the Chinese car and motorcycle manufacturer Geely signed a joint declaration of intent for use of the new battery technology.
“We are therefore giving Geely the opportunity to use our revolutionary battery system,” says Nick Hayek, CEO of Swatch Group, in an interview in Biel. In the cooperation, Geely and Belenos want to obtain concrete experiences with the use of the battery system in vehicles. “It is a first breakthrough for our invention, and reflects the great interest the industry has in our development,” says Nick Hayek. The cooperation with the ambitious car manufacturer aims to adapt the battery architecture optimally for its intended use.
Joint production of the revolutionary battery in China could also start as early as 2017, with the technology and powder for the cathode being provided by Belenos. The battery developed in Switzerland is already protected by 20 patents. The ultimate goal is now to obtain certification of the battery for use in electric vehicles on Chinese roads......

http://www.swatchgroup.com/en/group...0_overview/a_revolutionary_battery_by_belenos

Geely Automobile Holdings Limited Enters into Memorandum of Understanding with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited and Volvo Car Corporation to Form Joint Venture Company
Jul 20 17.
The board of directors of Geely Automobile Holdings Limited announced that on 20 July 2017, the company entered into the memorandum of understanding (the "MOU") with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited and Volvo Car Corporation (VCC) in relation to the proposed formation of a joint venture company (the "JV company") between the company, Geely Holding and VCC for the production and sale of vehicles under the Lynk & Co brand (the "Proposed Joint Venture Formation"). The scope of the JV Company is to engage in the production and sale of vehicles under the Lynk & Co brand, and the provision of after-sales services relating thereto, through the operational entities acquired or to be acquired by the JV Company.

https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=24602571

MY COMMENT: The above articles just highlights the seriousness that the Chinese have towards VRB technologies. One such example is Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (see above) which is a big player in transport/vehicle manufacturing based on their strategic plan (StratPlan 20200: http://www.geely.com/news/news/info/10572.html) focusing on 'green' cars and acquisitions in that space. I acknowledge that there will always be a demand for lithium ion batteries (VOLVO veh manufacturing deal with Geely Automobile 2018/19: take that deal with a grain of salt) but Vanadium is the better business choice (safer, lighter and cheaper). Another note is Vanadium's diversity in is use for metal fabrication industries and reliability for urban grid power. Based on reliable open source information that I have been data mining; Vanadium is happening.....Happy hunting...

DISCLAIMER: The information I post is purely intended to provide those who are like minded with info in order to alleviate the research burden and highlight a different perspective on things.