SANYO Partners with Suzuki to Supply Lithium-ion Battery Systems for Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. announced that it has entered into an agreement with Suzuki Motor Corp. to supply lithium-ion battery systems for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) "Swift Plug-in Hybrid". Suzuki has already announced its intention to start manufacturing the vehicles. The "Swift Plug-in Hybrid" will serve as a model supported by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The new model will serve as a demonstration experiment and the experiment will be implemented at Suzuki dealers from this autumn.
SANYO has been supplying nickel-metal hydride batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) to Honda and Ford since 2004. SANYO has also been carrying out joint development with the Volkswagen Group for next-generation nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion battery systems, as well as with PSA Peugeot Citroën for a nickel-metal hydride battery system. SANYO sees this new partnership as a way to further enhance its relationship with Suzuki and further appeal its strengths in next-generation battery technology for automobiles.
Using its Smart Energy System (SES) combining technologies for energy generation (photovoltaic systems), energy storage (rechargeable batteries), and energy efficiency (commercial equipment, etc.), SANYO offers systems optimizing energy use, as well as helping to reduce CO2 emissions and running costs. SANYO’s "Green Energy Park" is scheduled for completion in October 2010 at the company’s new Kasai Plant in Hyogo prefecture, Japan, and will feature cutting-edge SES implementation. The site will also have a vehicle charging station that combines solar cell and lithium-ion battery system technologies, and demonstration testing of the PHV will be carried out there.
