Category: Cool Tech

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GM Invests $10M in Forge Nano’s EV Battery 3D Printing Tech

The image depicts a 3D-rendered electric vehicle (EV) battery at the center, surrounded by intricate patterns that resemble atomic layers, symbolizing nanoscale coatings applied through advanced Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology. The background subtly incorporates industrial elements, such as semiconductor circuits and machinery, representing the integration of this technology into various industries. A faint GM logo blends into the scene, emphasizing the company’s role in advancing battery technology. The color palette includes metallic blues and silvers, evoking innovation and precision, with green accents hinting at sustainability and the transition to greener energy solutions.

GM Ventures, the investment arm of General Motors, has committed $10 million to Forge Nano, a company specializing in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology. Forge Nano’s ALD platform, branded as Atomic Armor, applies nanoscale coatings to enhance the performance of materials such as graphite, silicon, and nickel alloys, which are critical for battery efficiency. Beyond EV batteries, the technology finds use in sectors including semiconductors, magnetic components, and pharmaceuticals. This funding builds on Forge Nano’s $50 million Series C round in June 2023.

This investment represents GM’s second major move in additive manufacturing (AM) for EV batteries in 2024, following a $39 million Series B lead in Addionics announced in July. Anirvan Coomer, GM Ventures’ managing director, noted that GM is prioritizing technologies like Forge Nano’s ALD to scale up advanced materials, reduce costs, and enhance cathode functionality—currently the most expensive part of an EV battery. Forge Nano’s CEO, Paul Lichty, added that the funding will support efforts to improve material durability and extend ALD applications to areas such as semiconductor production.

GM’s investment reflects the automotive industry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Western EV supply chain. On the same day as the Forge Nano announcement, GM disclosed a $600 million joint venture with Lithium Americas Corp. As the transition to EVs accelerates, AM is emerging as an efficient solution for meeting the smaller, more flexible production needs of electric vehicles. This shift in manufacturing strategies highlights how AM technologies are becoming integral to the design and production processes of the EV industry.

Read more at 3dprint.com.

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When a $33,000 Battery Isn’t the Problem: How to Avoid Costly Misdiagnoses in Electric Vehicles

Mechanics working on an electric vehicle in a modern car repair shop, with one mechanic using a laptop to perform software diagnostics while another works on the vehicle's hardware. The car is connected to diagnostic tools, illustrating the integration of software updates and traditional car repairs in electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming the automotive industry, but their complex integration of hardware and software can lead to expensive misdiagnoses. A recent story highlights just how costly these errors can be when an Ontario man was told his Chevy Volt needed a $33,000 battery replacement—only to later find out a simple software update solved the problem.

Continue reading “When a $33,000 Battery Isn’t the Problem: How to Avoid Costly Misdiagnoses in Electric Vehicles”
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Oh No! The Death of Waze

Waze iconI’ve been a long-time user of Waze, especially since the GPSes I own don’t have traffic subscriptions. I am fortunate to have a cellular plan with a generous data allowance, meaning I can use Waze often without being concerned that I will exceed my data cap. Heck, I would even use Waze to get to and from work, a route my car could probably do with me blindfolded. But it was a route that often had accidents, and Waze would change the route to get me work or to home as quickly as possible.

So it was with interest that I read the article “Did Google Just Deliver A Death Blow To Waze?” this morning. Continue reading “Oh No! The Death of Waze”

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LED lamps are great for the environment, but bad for our health

“LED lamps are great for the environment, but bad for our health”

Harsh words. I can’t dispute whether flickering lights are truly bad for our health, but it should be fairly easy to quantify the varying qualities of LED lamps by the amount they flicker1.

This would make for an interesting project at school. In my Computer Tech class, for instance, we could build a simple circuit with a light sensor and then display it on an oscilloscope (yes, I still use one!) or sample it into a computer at a high enough rate to measure the flicker rate.

Anyone else up to the challenge?

1 I keep wanting to type “flickr”. It’s the photographer in me trying to get out…