Honda, GS Yuasa Break Ground on Lithium Ion Battery Plant
The joint venture between GS Yuasa Corp and Honda Motor Co. took a big step forward as ground was recently broken for construction of it’s Osadano Plant in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto. The partnership is being called Blue Energy Co. and will be developing and manufacturing lithium ion batteries for hybrid vehicles.
While speaking to reporters following the groundbreaking, Honda President Takeo Fukui intimated that the lithium ion batteries produced by Blue Energy Co. will likely be the driving force behind the Honda Civic and Fit hybrid models expected to come out sometime after 2010. “We’re going to take on the challenge of producing lithium-ion batteries that will exceed nickel metal hydride batteries in performance and cost potential,” Fukui said. “To strengthen our lineup, it’s important to achieve further progress in hybrid technology.”
At the moment, none of Honda’s current hybrids use lithium ion technology. However with the overall shift by the auto industry toward the use of lithium ion in hybrid vehicles, it was only a matter of time before Honda followed suit.
Category: Battery News
