TOKYO Audi and Sanyo Electric on Wednesday announced they will work together to jointly develop lithium-ion batteries, ratcheting up the global race for the next generation of green vehicles.
Lithium-ion batteries are considered to be the critical component for the next generation of hybrid vehicles. The VW Group has been flexing its green muscle with such design studies as the Golf TDI Hybrid, which debuted at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. That concept bundled high-tech diesel, electric drive and seven-speed DSG technology.
Toyota, General Motors and about a dozen other rivals are hurrying to mass-produce their own lithium-ion batteries for the next generation of green vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries, such as the ones used in laptop computers, are regarded as the most promising battery type for electric vehicles because they contain twice the power of conventional nickel-metal-hydride batteries.
"Our focus in the future will be directed more strongly at making electrically powered automobiles alongside ones driven by more efficient combustion engines," said Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen Group CEO. "Drivetrain electrification is the way forward if we wish to secure mobility in tomorrow's world. This cooperation is an important step for us."
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