Sanyo batteries hitch onto European HEVs

Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd reports that it will supply the Ni-MH battery systems for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) to European car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citro锟絥. The carmaker will use these battery systems for its Hybrid Diesel Technology—Hybrid4—that will be factory-fitted first on the crossover Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 and on the Citroen DS5 Hybrid4 to be manufactured in 2011.

Given the growing public concern for environmental protection, Sanyo is strengthening its business by intensively developing rechargeable batteries for environmentally friendly vehicles, which are expected to see a surge in demand in the coming years. Sanyo also provides HEV Ni-MH batteries to Ford and Honda, and has been carrying out joint development with Volkswagen for Ni-MH battery systems since January 2006, and Li-ion battery systems since May 2008.

Sanyo will continue to accelerate the development and marketing of high performance battery systems and globally expand its business in rechargeable batteries used in environmentally friendly vehicles.