Studying Strategic Choices of Carmakers in the Development of Energy Storage Solutions - Article Analysis Essay

The article focuses on highlighting the strategic choices that automotive companies make in the development of electrochemical energy storage (EES). The text argues that the insufficiency of current performance in the expansion of EES led to the lack of a dominant technological standard. The automotive companies have experienced hurdles that have made them unable to develop EES vehicles. Some of the challenges they have faced include the cost of production, power and energy density, technical scope involved in the production, and lack of proper safety precautionary measures (Flamand 170).

The article is divided into various sections such as abstract, keyword, reference, biographical notes, introduction, reference, appendix, note section, and other subsections contained in the essay. The abstract provides the reader with a general overview of what the study entails. It introduces the focus of the research, the method used, and findings. The keyword section highlights some of the essential terms that are used in the study. The reference part describes how the work should be cited. The section biographical notes provide brief information regarding the author of the article.

In the introductory part, Flamand begins by introducing how carmakers are striving to improve their technological innovations through research and development of electrochemical energy storage (EES). The author also talks about the challenges that the companies have undergone in the expansion of EES. Lithium-ion technology is mentioned as one of the options that companies are trying to adopt in the development of EES. However, the manufacturers can use other alternatives such as the use of metal-air. In this section, the author explains to the reader what each part of the study entails. Inside the body of the article, there are bolded titles that add literature to the topic under discussion. Moreover, the author also provides a research approach, which acts as a guide for the study. The study method contains various subheadings that expound on the EES technology families. Some of the subtitles include EES value chain, lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, and fuel cells.

The article also contains the data and methods section, which describes how patents were used as indicators of creative activities. The chapter also describes the database research strategy. Data for this research was obtained from the Questel Orbit patent database (Flamand 175). The part that follows discusses the main findings of the study. After the findings section, the one that comes next is the discussion and overall conclusion. In this part, Flamand discusses the overall findings of the research data collected after assessing different automotive companies relative degree of involvement in the development of energy storage solutions (Flamand 185). The section explains the mobilization process of the patent portfolios, the illustrations of the patent data, and new perspectives and potential improvements found in the paper. The article concludes with three sections, the acknowledgment, references, and appendices.

The topic and the findings of the research illustrate that the author has enough information on the subject. An example of an indication that proves Flamands knowledge in the topic is the authors recognition of the existence of bias in the analysis of new energy storage solutions that automakers make when positioning themselves. In the research approach section, the author introduces two levels of analysis to improve the characterization of EES strategic profiles of carmakers (Flamand 173). Equally important, the author utilizes tables, charts, and statistical equations in the findings section of the article to elaborate on the results of the study and to project the findings transparently. Tables and graphs are evident from pages 179 to 183. Flamand also acknowledges the existence of gaps and proposes future recommendations for scholars based on their findings. The use of visuals and identification of gaps and the suggestion of future recommendations indicate that the author is knowledgeable regarding the subject.

A majority of the sources utilized by Flamand are from peer-reviewed articles; thus, indicating that the author is knowledgeable on the types of sources to use for research. Besides, the reference section is also organized in alphabetical order, and the references are formatted using a hanging indentation. In the appendix section, Flamand classifies the patent request in table format and defines what each patent request entails. Overall, Flamand shows organization in the study and utilizes professional academic language in the research.

The article by Flamand will be of relevance to the research paper that I am going to write. Firstly, the study is a peer-reviewed article meaning other scholars have approved it as a relevant source in the academic field of automotive industry. Secondly, Flamand discusses the choices that automakers make when deciding the type of innovation to use when developing EES technologies. I will use the information provided in the introduction as well as the findings of the research and incorporate them into my paper through paraphrasing and proper citations to avoid plagiarism. The data from this article fits well with my other sources in the following ways. Firstly, it is a peer-reviewed article focusing on the automotive industry. Secondly, it talks about the innovation strategies employed by major automakers in the development of electrochemical energy storage (EES).

Works cited

Flamand, Marina. Studying Strategic Choices of Carmakers in the Development of Energy Storage Solutions: A Patent Analysis. Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management, Vol. 16, no.2, 2016, pp. 169-192.