Volkswagen and Sanyo to develop hybrid batteries
30 May, 2008
21 Comments 
Sanyo Electric and Volkswagen have announced they will jointly develop lithium-ion batteries, joining an intensifying race to provide the key component for the next generation of hybrid cars.
Sanyo, which has the biggest global market share of lithium-ion batteries used in personal computers and mobile phones, said it would spend $790 million over the next seven years for the project, which aims to begin mass production in 2009.
All the world’s leading carmakers are working on developing vehicle-use lithium-ion batteries to replace nickel-hydride ones currently used in petrol-electric hybrid cars, since they can store more energy in lighter, smaller packs.
Volkswagen showed a Golf diesel-hybrid powered concept at last year’s Frankfurt motor show and has indicated it is considering forms of electric power for future small cars that it is considering.
Japan’s Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi have separate joint ventures with Matsushita Electric Industrial, the NEC group and GS Yuasa, respectively, to mass-produce lithium-ion batteries.
“Our focus in future will be directed more strongly at making electrically powered automobiles alongside ones driven by more efficient combustion engines,” Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn said in a statement.
“This cooperation is an important step for us.”
Sanyo and Volkswagen are currently collaborating on the next generation of nickel-metal hydride systems. Sanyo has separately supplied batteries for hybrid vehicles made by Ford Motor and Honda.
Production of the lithium-ion batteries will initially begin on a new manufacturing line to be set up at Sanyo’s Tokushima factory in western Japan, it said in a statement.
It will look for a new location for further production from early 2010, to meet future demand of about 15,000 to 20,000 units a year, it said.
Sanyo also aims to develop and supply lithium-ion batteries for use in rechargeable plug-in hybrid vehicles starting in 2011.
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May 30th, 2008 at 5:30 am
There is no doubt about it that the next cars will be battery powered & with the price of petrol rising all the time.
Cheers !
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May 30th, 2008 at 6:50 am
It makes sense to have an electric powered car with a diesel engine supplement. Diesel’s shine when under constant load.
Looking forward to a realistic 3 litres per hundred.
Imagine the bigger fatter petrol next gen PriArse wont get close.
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May 30th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Finally Hybrids are starting to look good. A mix of cleaner batteries and a grunty and efficient Diesel engines. This is a hybrid I would buy.
Your right TRACKDAZE it will be good to have REALISTIC fuel efficiency figures, but watch what you say about the “PriArse” or a certain Toyota freak will hijack this post, Again!
VW rock and I hope they do rise to the top of the motor world and dethrone the cardigan wearers.
“aus liebe zum automobil”
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May 30th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I hope they get Colleen Hewett singing the theme song for ads on telly.
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May 30th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I’m not one for pointing out typos, but that one in the headline [Volkswagon] is a bit of howler.
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May 30th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
This sounds like a great package. I hope Ford Aust. will look carefully at this package when they start building and I hope developing the new Focus in 2010.
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May 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Ah yes, once again, VW chipping away at the big T!
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May 30th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Is that chipping away at the BIG T or chipping away at GM and Ford.
Actually - every manufactuer these days is chipping away at the American manufactuers … ooch !!
I’ll would be far more concerned about VW inflicting damage on General Motors and Ford then Toyota.
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May 30th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
…..next will be Toyota and nascar ho hum.
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May 30th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
BBBBBBIIIIZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toyota Dude, Its VW V Toyota……………Buddy!
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May 30th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
VW vs Toyota. Tell me when VW give up…
And yeah, I’d be suprised if GM wasn’t screwed over first.
VW have the “quality”, but not the range. Mechanics for the VW don’t come cheap either. Diesel and petrol are not the way to go, unless it’s only the short term where thinking about.
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May 31st, 2008 at 2:55 am
Duck Freak - sorry dude … ‘VW’ vs ‘The World’ like all other manufactuers.
Toyota has the reputation, fleet / diversity, resources and above all - $$$’s to part-take in stiff and enduring competition which is much, much more i can comment about General Motors and Ford Motor Corporation.
Maybe you should re-think your comment in context of the real world and not la, la, land !!
Toyota is a more powerful outfit then you would care about … FACT !!
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May 31st, 2008 at 11:01 am
Fact is VW has publicly announced it wants to be #1 globally in car sales. For the ignorant, that means it’s not looking at GM but has Toyota clearly in its sights.
With a new ute and mid-sized SUV in it’s line up, it’s well on it’s way. With industry ties to Sanyo, the future is exciting.
Go hard VW - quality, efficiency, value and style will win the race.
Just please sort your Aussie dealerships out!
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May 31st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Cameron - ignorance is expecting sales will only come from Toyota because lets face it, it ain’t gonna happen.
Toyota is strong and has the skill, resources, $$$$ , ambition and marketing to remain strong. Thinking that GM and Ford will not take a hit becuase of VW’s intentions really is down right stupid.
I like VW, they make great cars and have alot of potential but fact is, stating that they want to be No.1 is the easy part - exhibiting the substance to actually be able to do achieve that goal is a whole different league.
The first challenge for VW believe it or not is to improve thier quality. Great cars i agree but they do not rate to well in Quality / Customer Satisfaction Surveys and that is at thier current capacity before increasing production … mmm !!
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May 31st, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Oh yeah - Toyota has industry ties with Panasonic and owns approx 25% in Denso previously known as Nippon-Denso.
Apart from full ownership of Lexus and Scion, Toyota has a little more then 50% interest in Hino and Diahatsu each, 18% in Subaru and minor stakes in Isuzu and Yamaha.
As you can see, Toyota is well connected.
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May 31st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Good on VW for forging forward and chasing number 1 spot. Same can be said of Toyota seriously courting GM to build Prius in California! And all those numbnuts who bagged GM and Ford for quality and whatnot….now Toyota want to join em! So much for a strong hug company as aint happening here! They have to bed others to suceed as cant do on “OWN”!
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May 31st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
typo…..huge company.
TOYOTA…………….WHAT AN ABSOULTE JOKE! AUGERS WELL FOR VW AND AINT THEY CHASING SUPREMACY HARD WITH GREAT NEW MODELS!
ENJOY NUMBER 1 SPOT FOR SHORT TERM TOYOTA….ONLY A TOSSER WOULD CHAT AS IF TOYOTA WILL STAY THERE ALWAYS (like all responses around my comment here)!
FOOLS!
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June 1st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Y’know I’m sick and tired of hearing this Toyota vs Ford vs Holden vs Every Other Make in the World rubbish. This is happening on almost every damn article and it was old 3 years ago. Caradvice, get rid of these fanboys and keep the comments objective or at the very least *informative*.
“Toyota are the best!”
“Nah-uh”
“A-huh”
FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD. Did you turn 5 yesterday? Did I ask for a sales pitch? GET OVER IT.
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June 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I’m with you Mike. These one eyed single brand freaks do get tiresome at times.
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June 2nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
To assume GM and Ford won’t lose sales over Volkswagen’s sales ambitions is so ludicrous that I can’t believe I’m typing it. I only do so for the benefit of the not so clever, one-eyed toyota fans.
For VW to make No. 1 they will win sales from most manufacturers. The point being made is Toyota is the focal point since they moved into No. 1.
It is the Toyota model that will be under study as obviously it works. GM and Ford ect. also have something to contribute, but in order to be first you gotta beat the best, not second best.
Oh my, I’m spent with the obvious statements!
Ahhh coffee to the rescue: caffeine, my drug of choice!
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June 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Nobody got my Colleen Hewett joke. I’m all upset now.
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