Jan

World’s First Lithium-Ion Automotive Battery Plant Opens

Posted by admin Published in Auto Blog

Johnson Controls and Saft Advanced potential Solutions have opened what they shout the world’s first factory committed exclusively to manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles.

The plant, in Nersac, France, will produce 5,000 batteries annually to start, but company officials said they can quickly ramp up production to meet the demand from customers that include General Motors, Chrysler and Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz division.

According to Financial Times, the joint venture additionally plans to expand manufacturing to Asia and other regions. “We will have a global operation with capabilities in each of the regions,” said Alex Molinaroli, head of ability solutions for Johnson Controls US.

Johnson Controls is the world’s main

supplier of automotive batteries and Saft is among the biggest producers of nickel-cadmium and lithium-ion batteries. (The photo shows the lithium-ion battery Johnson Controls featured in its I3 concept vehicle at the North American worldly Auto Show.) Financial Times says the joint venture suggests electric and hybrid vehicles have “reached an industrial tipping point” and production of such vehicles could increase dramatically.

That remains to be seen, of course, but most of the major automakers are developing electric and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles and investing heavily in lithium-ion battery technology.