Mitsubishi Heavy To Make Lithium-ion Car Batteries

[Thaising]

Japan's largest heavy machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plans to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid cars, a report said.

The company will test-drive prototype vehicles with the batteries next year and aims to begin full production in 2010, the Nikkei business daily said.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also plans to develop electric motors for cars, with the aim of supplying the batteries and motors as a package deal, the newspaper said.

Lithium-ion batteries require only one-tenth the recharge time of their nickel-hydride counterparts, which are often used in hybrid cars, it said.

Japanese, US and European automakers plan to begin using lithium-ion batteries in vehicles in around 2010. The market for the batteries is expected to grow to 230 billion yen (1.9 billion dollars) in 2011. - AFP