A brand new electric vehicle is on its way – this time from the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), the largest automaker in China.
The company has selected A123Systems to develop its lithium-ion battery packs for a 2012 model year electric passenger car with A123 to use its nanophosphate cells to create a customised battery pack.
The A123/SAIC joint venture is already well established and is the first between a non-Chinese battery manufacturer and a leading Chinese automaker. The idea is to develop, manufacture and sell complete vehicle traction battery systems in the country.
Dr Jun Zhu, the general manager of the New Energy Vehicle Division at SAIC, commented that A123’s battery systems offer increased safety, extended life and exceptional performance. The company, he states, remains committed to producing a complete line of vehicles that support the government’s new energy vehicle initiative.
A123Systems also supplies battery technology to SAIC for the Roewe 750 hybrid and the Roewe 550 plug-in hybrid.
