Johnson Controls is to increase existing Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery capacity in its Toledo, Ohio plant, bringing the overall invested amount to US$130m since the start of production for the technology in the US in 2012.
“Consumers want to drive vehicles further using less gas,” said JCI Original Equipment, Americas VP and general manager, Petar Oklobdzija.
“They want to buy vehicles with technology that is available today and is affordable. The solution is start-stop technology.”
Tightening government fuel economy and carbon emission reduction targets put additional challenges on car makers from all around the world to replace conventional technologies with more efficient, advanced technologies.
“Most auto makers have already announced plans to have a majority of new vehicles equipped with start-stop or similar technology within the next three to five years,” added Oklobdzija.
“Our battery supply contracts for the Ford F-150 and Chevy Malibu underscore this trend, which predicts about 9m start-stop vehicles will be on the road in the US by 2020.”

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