Sanyo Electric Co. (Tokyo) and Honda Motor Co. (Japan) will join forces in developing batteries for hybrid cars powered by both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Honda aims to raise the performance of its hybrid cars by exploiting the technology of Sanyo Electric. Sanyo aims to develop a battery system that will help reduce production costs, as well as reduce gas emissions and enhance fuel efficiency.
Under the partnership, Sanyo Electric will develop the battery system that moves the electric motor. It will optimize a nickel-hydrogen battery, the core component of the system, in size and power output to meet the specific needs of different models. Honda plans to adopt the battery system, starting with models to be released in two to three years.
