Johnson Controls, Partner to Open Lithium-ion Battery Factory in France
Johnson Controls Inc. (NYSE:JCI) and its French joint venture partner, Saft, soon will open their first factory to build lithium-ion batteries for a plug-in version of a Mercedes-Benz sedan.
The company also is making batteries for Dodge Sprinters that are being tested in Los Angeles and New York.
The company announced last year that it is engaged in development work with multiple automakers for hybrid batteries for hybrid electric cars and plug-in vehicles, including the plug-in Saturn Vue under development by General Motors.
The new Johnson Controls-Saft factory in Nersac, France, will open this month. That factory will begin production this year of lithium-ion batteries that will be supplied to Daimler AG for its Mercedes S-Class 400 hybrid. . . . more
In another announcement Johnson Controls said its lithium-ion battery would last 10 years and that it would take up one-third less space and weigh 50 percent less than nickel-metal hydride batteries.
This is just what the LI-ion business needs, as the demand for these batteries will soon outstrip the supply.
What is the toxicity of these batteries? Compared to lead/acid? Compared to nickle- metal hydride? Can they be recycled? What is their cost compared to the above?
Posted by: David Hulbert | February 03, 2008 at 05:49 PM