Hitachi has announced that it will be providing lithium-ion batteries that power hybrid cars to General Motors from next year.
By Ian Armitage
Japanese electronics maker Hitachi has announced it will supply lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles to General Motors from next year.
Supply will start in 2010 and comes as manufacturers try to raise production capacity to meet surging demand for gas-electric cars.
Hitachi currently makes 40,000 lithium-ion batteries per month and said it planned to increase its production of the batteries from 40,000 cells a month to three million a month.
“We plan to boost our production capacity for lithium-ion batteries as we expect demand for hybrid vehicles will continue to grow worldwide,” said Hitachi spokesman Shinya Yamada. He declined to say when Hitachi would lift the capacity.
Hitachi’s rivals have also been raising battery production for hybrid cars.
Last month Toyota announced that it planned to use lithium-ion batteries for the first time in its plug-in hybrids.
Its hybrids currently use nickel-metal hydride batteries.
A lithium-ion battery produces more energy, allowing hybrid cars to run more as an electric vehicle.