JCI-Saft battery venture wins $8.2 million U.S. contract

[DainBramaged]

The U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium has awarded an $8.2 million contract to the Johnson Controls-Saft joint venture to develop lithium ion batteries for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Over the next two years, the venture will use the funding to develop a battery system that allows vehicles to travel up to 40 miles on electric power alone.

The system will include high-energy-capacity cells, battery management electronics, control software and a thermal management system.

The Advanced Battery Consortium is part of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research, the organization for collaborative research involving Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors. The U.S. Department of Energy provides funding to the consortium.

"Lithium ion technology has the potential to dramatically change the personal transportation landscape for consumers," Don Walkowicz, executive director of the council, said in a statement.

Johnson Controls Inc. supplies interiors, electronics and batteries to the auto industry. Saft Advanced Power Solutions manufactures nickel-cadmium batteries for industrial use and makes lithium ion batteries for markets outside the auto industry.

Johnson Controls and Saft formed the joint venture in January 2006.

Johnson Controls ranks No. 7 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers, with original-equipment parts sales of $18.5 billion in fiscal 2007.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20080812/ANA02/354769162/1128