When we first put out our list of 13 startups working on lithium-ion batteries for vehicles, the market was waiting for billions of stimulus dollars for advanced batteries to be doled out, and hoping to gear up for its biggest ever plug-in vehicle push in 2010. That was a half a year ago, and subsequent DOE funds and major supply deals have made winners and losers out of contenders.
 
One of the startups on our original list — A123Systems — went on to have the biggest public offering of 2009 (now that it’s publicly traded, we’re still tracking ‘em but cut the company from our startup watch list). At the other end of the spectrum, a once promising company called Imara called it quits after being unable to raise new financing. So uh, they won’t be hitting the road any time soon.
 
Here’s our updated list, now with 20 battery startups (working on battery cells, materials, management systems and other tech) you should know about...

 
ETV Motors: Founded in 2008, Herzliya, Israel-based ETV Motors is working on propulsion technology for extended-range electric vehicles, encompassing advanced batteries and a microturbine for power generation. The startup raised a “milestone-driven” $12 million investment from 21 Ventures and David Gelbaum’s Quercus Trust in the second half of 2008, and it says its main research focus right now is demonstrating that it can overcome oxidation and other challenges associated with high-voltage spinel cathodes.
  
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