A123Systems Acquires Hymotion
Tyler Hamilton reports in Clean Break that according to reliable industry sources lithium-ion battery producer A123Systems has quietly acquired Hymotion, a Canadian company that converts hybrid vehicles into plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The acquisition of Hymotion would be very synergistic to A123's activities.
A123 has a MOU with Cobasys to do systems integration and manufacturing of battery systems for HEV markets, it has a $15 million contract to develop lithium iron phosphate battery technology for the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), and a contract with GM to develop li-ion batteries for prototype Saturn Green Line Vue plug-in hybrid SUVs.
Hymotion currently has systems available to convert Toyota Prius, Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids to plug-in hybrids.
Go-Go A123, I hope they can get as many pokers in the fire as possible.
Here's to staying out of the tool business and in the auto.
Posted by: Greg woulf | April 25, 2007 at 12:31 PM
I am suspicious of this move. I think it may be another attempt to keep this technology off the market. I wish Telsa would come out with a kit to convert Prius to plugins.
Posted by: Electric Car Fan | April 25, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Are they going to use A123+Cobasys tech in HyMotion products? I wouldn't call that synergy but buying out the competition.
Posted by: DavidJ | April 26, 2007 at 08:41 AM
This looks bad. It's scary enough that A123 is working with Cobasys (Chevron owned oil company). Are they buying the competition or suffocating a technology opportunity?
Posted by: SayItIsntSo | April 26, 2007 at 01:55 PM
Well they also might be trying to get more say on the development of the Southern California plugin development.
http://www.nsti.org/press/PRshow.html?id=1762
Posted by: GreyFlcn | April 26, 2007 at 05:24 PM
This is not a good sign. For A123 to go vertical is akin to Intel during its founding days would go into PC manufacturing and software. The only bright side is that A123 would get access to battery packaging and EV deployment talent and data.
Why would they spend their hard earned cash on such a venture beats me. Unless of course their order books are overflowing, which is something they have claimed before.
I dont necessarily buy the technology suffocating argument. But I am sure if nLiFePO4 is what it is billed to be, it would have a lot of enemies. How difficult is it to make this powder anyways?
Posted by: Beek | April 27, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Cheaper panels that use less silicon.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/18718/
Posted by: Bob | May 13, 2007 at 10:25 AM
A123 were given a $40 million grant just before they acquired Hymotion for ...$40 million.
Posted by: elmin | February 27, 2008 at 06:10 AM