I did little research on some partnerships around hybrid vehicle battery development.
As you know Insight's (& Civic hybrid) battery is made by Panasonic (Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.).
Panasonic EV Energy is owned by Matsushita and Toyota. Toyota had 40% share, but they recently put more capital (1 billion yen) in thier venture and now got 60% share.
http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/offici ... 005-1.html
(sorry, in Japanese)
Following data from panasonic site (as of 10/29/05) says thier capital is 2 billion yen. However now it should be 3 billion yen now as a result of Toyota's additional investment. (as of 2005 10 05 press release date)
http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/e_profile.html
(in English)
Company Name Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
Head Office 555 Sakaijuku, Kosai, Shizuoka, 431-0452 Japan
Established December 11, 1996
Capital 2 billion yen
Employees Approx. 850
Description of Business Product Development, Manufacturing and Sales of Nickel metal-hydride rechargeable batteries and Battery management systems for
HEVs and PEVs.
List of Hybrid cars use panasonic batteries.
http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/e_catalog2.html
As you can see, this list is missing US Accord hybrid. Guess what, Accord hybrid use Sanyo battery.
I am not sure 2nd generation Civic Hybrid gets Panasonic or Sanyo's? Does anyone know?? The article excerpt at Japanese forum says it's Panasonic made.
Sanyo and Honda is working togather to develop battery for hybrid car (since 2002).
Sanyo also agree to develop battery with DaimlerChrysler. They use Sanyo battery for A class fuel cell car. Ford get Sanyo's battery for Escape Hybrid.
- - - - - - -
I got most of these info from Japanese sources, but I put links just in case. (I am Japanese, so I can dig little more on Japanse sources. I assume you all can do google to find out more from non-Japanese sites.)
Related airticles (sorry, all in Japanese)
http://www.honda.co.jp/factbook/auto/CI ... 09/12.html
(This honda page explain new CivicIMA and battery.)
http://finance.nifty.com/as/column/fina ... 0149_1.htm
http://www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/hypertext4/ ... 018-2.html
http://eri.netty.ne.jp/honmanote/comp_eco/2004/0401.htm
Business Week's Sanyo aritcle (mention little about hybrid)
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 806151.htm
(by the way, Sanyo is in bad shape lately.)
As you know Insight's (& Civic hybrid) battery is made by Panasonic (Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.).
Panasonic EV Energy is owned by Matsushita and Toyota. Toyota had 40% share, but they recently put more capital (1 billion yen) in thier venture and now got 60% share.
http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/offici ... 005-1.html
(sorry, in Japanese)
Following data from panasonic site (as of 10/29/05) says thier capital is 2 billion yen. However now it should be 3 billion yen now as a result of Toyota's additional investment. (as of 2005 10 05 press release date)
http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/e_profile.html
(in English)
Company Name Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
Head Office 555 Sakaijuku, Kosai, Shizuoka, 431-0452 Japan
Established December 11, 1996
Capital 2 billion yen
Employees Approx. 850
Description of Business Product Development, Manufacturing and Sales of Nickel metal-hydride rechargeable batteries and Battery management systems for
HEVs and PEVs.
List of Hybrid cars use panasonic batteries.
http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/e_catalog2.html
As you can see, this list is missing US Accord hybrid. Guess what, Accord hybrid use Sanyo battery.
I am not sure 2nd generation Civic Hybrid gets Panasonic or Sanyo's? Does anyone know?? The article excerpt at Japanese forum says it's Panasonic made.
Sanyo and Honda is working togather to develop battery for hybrid car (since 2002).
Sanyo also agree to develop battery with DaimlerChrysler. They use Sanyo battery for A class fuel cell car. Ford get Sanyo's battery for Escape Hybrid.
- - - - - - -
I got most of these info from Japanese sources, but I put links just in case. (I am Japanese, so I can dig little more on Japanse sources. I assume you all can do google to find out more from non-Japanese sites.)
Related airticles (sorry, all in Japanese)
http://www.honda.co.jp/factbook/auto/CI ... 09/12.html
(This honda page explain new CivicIMA and battery.)
http://finance.nifty.com/as/column/fina ... 0149_1.htm
http://www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/hypertext4/ ... 018-2.html
http://eri.netty.ne.jp/honmanote/comp_eco/2004/0401.htm
Business Week's Sanyo aritcle (mention little about hybrid)
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 806151.htm
(by the way, Sanyo is in bad shape lately.)