GS Yuasa and Honda Motor have agreed to form a joint venture to make high-performance lithium-ion batteries primarily for hybrid vehicles. The pair aim to establish the new company around next spring.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The JV will be held 51% by GS Yuasa and 49% by Honda, and based in Minami-ku, Kyoto, with a factory on a GS Yuasa Osadano property in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto.
“The lithium-ion battery offers energy density and power density higher than the nickel-metal-hydride battery, and demand for lithium-ion batteries is therefore expected to grow in the future as the battery of choice for hybrid vehicles,” the companies said in a statement.
“GS Yuasa and Honda determined that development of smaller and lighter lithium-ion batteries with further improved performance should be achieved by combining the technological strengths and know-how of the two companies in the area of manufacturing, sales, and R&D of lithium-ion batteries.
“Through the development of such batteries, the two companies can demonstrate the maximum synergy effect in the effort to promote the greater market penetration of hybrid vehicles.”
The new company will manufacture batteries based on EH6, the lithium-ion battery developed by GS Yuasa. The performance most suitable for next-generation hybrid vehicles will be achieved through a review of certain elements such as the structure and electrode materials.
