Battery development and manufacturing is a key sector of the global automotive industry. Today, most automakers are working on hybrid and/or fully-electric powertrains. In Germany alone, hybrid vehicle sales have increased by 44 percent in 2007. Daimler, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen and Opel are scheduled to collectively release nine new hybrid model series by 2010.
With regard to batteries, Daimler holds 25 patents in lithium-ion battery technologies. Other industry leaders such as BASF, Bosch, Evonik and Volkswagen have joined forces under the "Lithium Ion Battery LIB 2015" innovation alliance. They are investing E360 million in research and development of lithium-ion batteries. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is contributing E60 million toward this effort.
Meanwhile, as part of its technology development strategy, the federal government will provide E1.1 billion over a ten-year period to applied research on automotive electronics, lithium-ion batteries, lightweight construction and other automotive applications.
Finally, the German Association of the Automotive Industry has recently launched a joint initiative among all the participating branches of industry, research institutes and the BMBF to develop industry standards and a common base for future research in alternative energy storage systems.
photo:Ford - Jupiter Images
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| Ford Escape Hybrid's nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) battery. |
With regard to batteries, Daimler holds 25 patents in lithium-ion battery technologies. Other industry leaders such as BASF, Bosch, Evonik and Volkswagen have joined forces under the "Lithium Ion Battery LIB 2015" innovation alliance. They are investing E360 million in research and development of lithium-ion batteries. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is contributing E60 million toward this effort.
Meanwhile, as part of its technology development strategy, the federal government will provide E1.1 billion over a ten-year period to applied research on automotive electronics, lithium-ion batteries, lightweight construction and other automotive applications.
Finally, the German Association of the Automotive Industry has recently launched a joint initiative among all the participating branches of industry, research institutes and the BMBF to develop industry standards and a common base for future research in alternative energy storage systems.
photo:Ford - Jupiter Images