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Home | Green Cars News | Technology | AESC Starts Trial Production of Lithium-Ion Batteries

AESC Starts Trial Production of Lithium-Ion Batteries

16 July, 2009 02:52:00

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Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) - has started trial production of advanced lithium-ion batteries for a wide range of automotive applications at its Zama Operations Center.

AESC’s start of operation follows the announcement of the joint-venture in April 2007. Last year Nissan and NEC said that they would invest about $1.1 billion in their joint venture to boost manufacturing capacity of lithium-ion batteries for about 200,000 electric and hybrid cars annually in 2011 or later.

With start-up capacity at 13,000 units/year, AESC plans to gradually ramp up production to 65,000 units/year by 2010.

Having twice the energy density of conventional nickel-hydride batteries, AESC's lithium-ion batteries employ a compact module comprised of laminated-type cells, that contribute to more efficient packaging. The use of manganese-type electrode offers thermal stability and the laminated structure improves cooling, thus contributing to the battery's safety performance. The battery has undergone extreme durability tests demonstrating average runs of more than 100,000 km in field tests.

AESC will produce the lithium-ion batteries for Nissan's electric vehicle to be introduced in the U.S. and Japan, as well as Nissan's original hybrid vehicle, in 2010.

Other Japanese carmakers, Toyota and Honda each have a joint venture to develop and produce lithium-ion batteries for car use with Matsushita Electric and GS Yuasa.

GS Yuasa also has JV with Mitsubishi to manufacture high-performance lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

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