Manufacturers are pushing back the technical boundaries of batteries used for hybrid electric vehicles. Not so long ago, the automotive industry was protecting an old technology yet nowadays it appears to have embraced the need for hybrids and the use of advanced battery technology. According to executives at Western Lithium Corp, macroeconomic, political and environmental events such as oil dependency, new competition and increasing carbon emissions have all contributed towards the new move to electrification of transportation. They told just-auto: “New technology in the form of lithium-ion batteries has facilitated the change away from old business models that are not sustainable in the future. The economic recession has actually forced governments, corporations and consumers to make decisions that will return future benefits with respect to profitability and sustainability. The automotive industry is quickly responding to the anticipated demand for electric and hybrid cars and is working towards mass-producing them in a profitable manner, with manufacturers like Nissan and GM leading the way.”

Yet the sheer cost of such advanced batteries for electric vehicles appears to be a stumbling block. Battery manufacturers report more and more governmental authorities taking on a longer-range outlook as far as the environment is concerned.

This just-auto sector report reviews the key market drivers, mainly for starter batteries, but with the rise in interest of new battery technology, we also look at new developments in areas such as lithium-ion. The report includes our estimates of global market volume for advanced batteries fitted to hybrid light vehicles (from 2008 to 2016).

Following our market overview in Chapter 1, just-auto’s product fitment forecasts in Chapter 2 predict in some detail how the OE market for lead-acid starter batteries will evolve in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Japan, China and North America from 2006 through to 2016. This chapter includes our estimates and forecasts for the total (OES and independent) aftermarket for lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and commercial vehicles across the European Union, i.e. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the UK, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. The chapter also provides 2008 % market share of the major lead-acid battery suppliers by region.

Chapter 3 Technical review
This chapter sets out a review of recent innovations in starter batteries as well as advanced battery technology including exclusive interviews with Western Lithium Corp, EaglePicher Technologies and SB LiMotive (a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI). The three main battery technologies discussed here are: lead-acid, nickel (Ni-MH), and lithium-ion (Li-ion). These interviews provide a wealth of insight into the issues and trends surrounding future battery technology and manufacturing.

Chapter 4 Manufacturers
This chapter provides profiles of the major manufacturers, namely Exide Technologies, Fiamm, GS Yuasa, Johnson Controls and Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery.

Read more about this report with just-auto's research article here

Preface
Research methodology
Report coverage
The author
Glossary of terms

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 The market
Market trends
Market players
Banner
Exide Technologies
Fiamm
Johnson Controls
Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery
Market shares
Europe
North America
Market forecasts

Chapter 3 Technical review
Defining the elements
Starter batteries
Batteries for alternative drive systems
Advanced automotive battery innovations
The National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries (NAATBatt) is formed
Daimler forms an alliance with Evonik Industries to develop and produce lithium-ion batteries
GS Yuasa increases investment in lithium-ion batteries
Nissan, NEC and NEC Tokin form joint venture to produce lithium-ion batteries in Japan
SB LiMotive acquires Cobasys
Exide Technologies uses public funds to develop lead-acid battery technology
Johnson Controls uses public funds to develop advanced battery technologies
Sanyo Electric forecasts increased demand for its battery cells
Quallion LLC builds new facility to produce lithium-ion batteries
Q&As with battery developers
Q&A with Western Lithium Corp
Q&A with EaglePicher Technologies
Q&A with SB LiMotive

Chapter 4 Manufacturers
Exide Technologies
Fiamm
GS Yuasa Corp
Johnson Controls
Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery

List of figures
Figure 1: Global OE and aftermarket market shares of automotive lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and light vehicles, 2008 (% of sales volume)
Figure 2: European OE and aftermarket market shares of automotive lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and light vehicles, 2008 (% of sales volume)
Figure 3: European independent aftermarket market shares for automotive lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and light vehicles, 2008 (% of sales volume)
Figure 4: German independent aftermarket market shares for automotive lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and light vehicles, 2008 (% of sales volume)
Figure 5: UK independent aftermarket market shares for automotive lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and light vehicles, 2008 (% of sales volume)
Figure 6: French independent aftermarket market shares for automotive lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and light vehicles, 2008 (% of sales volume)
Figure 7: Market shares of North American OE automotive lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars and light vehicle applications, 2008 (% of sales volume)

List of tables
Table 1: Market volume of OE lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars produced in North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and China, expected case, best case and worst case scenarios, 2006-2016 (000 units)
Table 2: Market value of OE lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars produced in North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and China, expected case, best case and worst case scenarios, 2006-2016 (EUR'000s)
Table 3: Market volume of lead-acid starter batteries for passenger cars distributed through the OES and independent aftermarket, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, UK, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, 2006-2016 (000 units)
Table 4: Market volume of lead-acid starter batteries for commercial vehicles (less than 3.5 ton) distributed through the OES and independent aftermarket, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, UK, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden,, 2006-2016 (000 units)
Table 5: Advanced batteries fitted to hybrid light vehicles worldwide, 2008-2016 ('000s units)
Table 6: Exide Technologies' transportation battery manufacturing plants and offices worldwide, 2009
Table 7: Fiamm SpA's starter battery operations, 2009
Table 8: Johnson Controls' Power Solutions' plants and distribution centres worldwide, 2009