Nissan and NEC Li-ion JV AESC Begins Trial Li-ion Production
16 July 2009
Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), the automotive Li-ion joint venture between Nissan Motor, NEC and NEC Tokin (earlier post), has begun trial production of advanced lithium-ion batteries for a wide range of automotive applications at its Zama Operations Center.
With start-up pack capacity at 13,000 units/year, AESC will gradually ramp up production to 65,000 units/year by 2010.
AESC is currently producing laminated lithium-ion cells using a manganese spinel cathode material (LiMn2O4). AESC will produce the lithium-ion batteries for Nissan’s electric vehicle to be introduced in the US and Japan, as well as Nissan’s original hybrid vehicle, in 2010.
AESC intends to mass produce and market its batteries to any interested automaker, with an aim to become a global leader of advanced battery products and services.
Another proof of the electrification concept. And just three short years ago, all seemed lost. Funny how a little imagination can flip the script.
Posted by: sulleny | 16 July 2009 at 08:17 AM
Yes Sulleny, with more than a dozen major battery manufacturers on board, (and more to come) cost, quality and performance could improve significantly in the next 3 to 4 years.
Affordable storage units ($250/Kwh) with improved performance, close to 400 Wh/Kg and 3000+ cycles could be on the horizon by 2015.
If so, affordable mass produced PHEVs and BEVs will soon follow.
An interesting decade ahead for e-vehicles.
Posted by: HarveyD | 16 July 2009 at 12:34 PM