Lithium ion batteries

Joint venture planned to start in September 2008 with company to be headquartered in Korea

Stuttgart, June 16, 2008 – Robert Bosch GmbH and the Korean company Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. have decided to set up a joint venture to develop, manufacture, and sell lithium-ion batteries. It is planned that the joint venture, which is to be named "SB LiMotive Co. Ltd." and to be headquartered in Korea, will start operations in September 2008. The shareholding of Robert Bosch GmbH will be 50 percent and that of Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. 50 percent – both companies will be equally represented on the board of management and on the board of directors. The foundation of the joint venture is still subject to approval by antitrust authorities.

Dynamic partnership between the Volkswagen Group and Sanyo

Wolfsburg, 28 May 2008 - Agreement has been reached on a co-operation which sees Volkswagen joining forces with Sanyo, one of the world’s leading developers of rechargeable batteries, to work on new and extremely efficient high-performance storage systems based on lithium-ion technology.

Really hip: Twin motors double driving fun and are more eco-friendly

Hanover, March 14, 2008 – Alicia Silverstone drives one, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo di Caprio, Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford do too: Hybrid vehicles are all the rage. And of course California's environmentally-conscious governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also has one of these cars equipped with both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. But the hybrid vehicle is a star not only in Hollywood. Ever more hybrid cars are being registered in Germany as well.

2008-03-04, GENEVA - As another key element in its overall global strategy to improve fuel economy and reduce oil consumption and CO2 emissions, General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner announced today that GM will introduce a second-generation version of the GM Hybrid System with a new, more powerful lithium-ion battery.

Highlights:
- High-volume system will debut in North America in 2010, and then expand globally
- Hitachi to supply new lithium-ion battery
- Cost-effective technology to improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent

Continental's Powertrain division supplies complete battery and other hybrid components for Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID

HANOVER and REGENSBURG, Germany, March 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The international automotive supplier Continental will launch first-time volume production of a high-performance lithium-ion battery for hybrid vehicles at the end of the present year. It will be used in the Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID. "This marks an important breakthrough for Continental as supplier of battery systems. In the next few years we will be launching production of further lithium-ion energy storage devices for mild- and full-hybrid and electric-powered vehicles," says Continental Executive Board member Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann.

GS Yuasa, MC and MMC Establish Joint Venture Company to Produce Large Lithium-ion Batteries

December 12, 2007 — GS Yuasa Corporation (President Makoto Yoda, Head Office Minami-ku, Kyoto), Mitsubishi Corporation (President Yorihiko Kojima, Head Office Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (President Osamu Masuko, Head Office Minato-ku, Tokyo) began collaboration last May to set up a joint venture company to manufacture large capacity and high performance lithium-ion batteries. On December 12th, 2007, "Lithium Energy Japan" was officially established.

Lithium Balance Develops Battery Management Technology for ZAP

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, Dec. 10, 2007 -- Electric car scientists at Lithium Balance in Copenhagen and ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB) of California announced results of their latest tests of a new battery management system for lithium batteries, reporting that the ZAP Xebra pickup traveled 152 miles on a single charge.

Electric car scientists extended the range of an electric car by five times to 152 miles using lithium-ion batteries and a proprietary battery management system. California's ZAP and Denmark's Lithium Balance plan to offer an upgrade for the ZAP Xebra pickup in the near future.

German industries join forces to develop a new generation of batteries

Delivery Schedule Demonstrates Visibility to $70 Million in Revenue by 2010