Hitachi enters hybrid battery venture Partnership aims to tap lithium-ion batteries that allow for smaller, lighter products. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Maxell Ltd. and Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co. Ltd. said Wednesday they had formed a joint venture to make rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for hybrid cars. The venture, aimed at tapping into the growing market for hybrid vehicles and valued at ¥1.5 billion, or $13.86 million, is owned 43.7 percent by Shin-Kobe, 36.7 percent by Hitachi (HIT: Research, Estimates) and 19.6 percent by Hitachi Maxell. Nickel metal-hydride batteries are currently used widely for hybrid cars, such as Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius, but lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density, making it possible to manufacture smaller and lighter products, said a spokesman at Hitachi, Japan's largest electronics conglomerate. Read full article here. Jeff
I thought that one of the reasons that Ni Metal Hydride was choses because it is more eco-friendly than Li? Getting rid of Lithium is more difficult.
Geez, I've got visions of meth manufacturers out there steeling Prii for the Li batteries to make their meth!! I need some time off work...
