Report: Hitachi To Team Up With Johnson Controls In Battery Technology, Possibly In Power Electronics and Electric Machines As Well
The Nikkei reports that Hitachi Ltd. will partner with Johnson Controls Inc. in lithium-ion and other advanced battery technologies. The two firms are also reportedly discussing expanding the cooperation to include other areas such as power electronics and electric machines (PEEM).
Hitachi hopes to boost worldwide sales of its lithium-ion and other batteries for use in electric vehicles and smart grids…If the collaboration leads to major contracts with carmakers, the two firms plan to build joint venture plants in the US, Europe and Asia. This will enable Hitachi to not only bolster output with less investment, but also lower production costs by utilizing Johnson Controls’ expertise in mass production.
Hitachi and the US firm plan to work out the details by the end of year. They will consider setting up a joint venture to handle everything from R&D to sales worldwide.
Johnson Controls has already formed a Li-ion joint venture with Saft—Johnson Controls Saft—for Li-ion batteries. In 2009, Johnson Controls received a $299.2 million grant—the largest grant awarded—from the United States Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to build domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced batteries for electric drive vehicles.
Also in 2009, Johnson Controls-Saft received incentives adding up to $168.5 million from the State of Michigan for the establishment of a US manufacturing facility for lithium-ion cells and complete hybrid battery systems.
In June 2010, Hitachi, Ltd. established a new in-house company—the Battery Systems Company—to strengthen its battery business with a focus on the steadily growing lithium-ion battery market. The Battery Systems Company comprises two existing Hitachi companies: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd. (Earlier post.)
Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd. was formed in 2004 as a joint venture between Hitachi, Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co. Ltd. and Hitachi Maxwell Ltd. to develop, manufacture and market rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles and other applications.
Tags: hitachi maxell, Johnson, lithium ion battery, lithium ion cells, Ltd, Saft
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