A123 Systems has been selected to develop battery packs for a new Geely plug-in hybrid electric sedan.
Under the terms of the development agreement, Advanced Traction Battery Systems (ATBS), A123’s co-owned Shanghai-based joint venture company, will supply 20Ah prismatic cells to ATBS for the production of complete lithium ion battery packs for Geely’s new PHEV, which is expected to launch in China in 2014.
A123’s 20Ah prismatic cells are designed to deliver high power, increased safety, extended life and a higher usable energy over a wider state-of-charge, enabling Geely to optimize the efficiency of its design and maximize vehicle range.
Geely is a global automaker with more than 30 different models in its portfolio. In 2011, it produced more than 430,000 vehicles, and there are currently more than 2.2 million Geely vehicles on the road worldwide.
“We believe that China, the largest and fastest growing auto market in the world, represents a significant opportunity for our technology, especially to help automakers leverage the government’s ambitious requirements and lucrative incentives for the production of new energy vehicles,” said Jason Forcier, vice president of the Automotive Solutions Group at A123. “Since forming our ATBS joint venture in 2009, we have made significant progress in delivering complete solutions to the passenger and commercial vehicle markets in China. Geely is at the forefront of electric vehicle development, and we believe that this agreement validates A123’s battery technology as well as the systems engineering expertise we have helped cultivate at ATBS.”
