Panasonic EV to start production of rechargeable batteries for hybrid cars

Japan’s Panasonic EV Energy Co., a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Corp., plans to start manufacturing rechargeable batteries for hybrid cars in Miyagi Prefecture in 2009, instead of 2010 as the company had earlier planned. Its factory, which is currently under construction, will mainly produce nickel-metal hydride batteries for use in the Prius and other hybrid vehicles. Panasonic EV said it has no plan to scale down its yearly hybrid vehicle battery output of 200,000 units. Toyota, which plans to release the third-generation Prius hatchback from mid-May, also envisions releasing a plug-in hybrid car in late 2009. Meanwhile, Hitachi Ltd., which is also based in Japan, is gearing up its renewable energy system research efforts by working with the British Centre for Process Innovation Ltd. to work on fuel cells that use methanol instead of hydrogen. (February 24, 2009)