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Friday, 12 August, 2011 12:45 PM
GM
Awards A123 Systems Contract for Future Battery Packs
Nanophosphate®
lithium ion will power future electric vehicles
Photo
credit: www.a123systems.com
An
A123 Systems employee checks the production line at the
Livonia, Mich. facility.
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DETROIT –
General Motors has awarded a production contract to A123 Systems,
a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium
ion batteries and systems, for complete battery packs to be used
in future GM electric vehicles to be sold in select global markets.
The contract includes advanced Nanophosphate cells and fully integrated
electronic components. The specific vehicles and brands will be
announced at a later date.
GM battery engineering teams have tested and validated the A123
battery chemistry at the automaker’s Global Battery Systems
lab in Warren, Mich. Teams from both companies will now work on
developing calibrations and software controls for the battery system
in preparation for production.
“GM is committed to offering a full line of electrified vehicles
- each of which calls for different battery specifications,”
said Micky Bly, GM’s executive director - Global Electrical
Systems, Infotainment and Electrification. “We work with a
variety of battery developers and A123’s advanced Nanophosphate
lithium ion technology offers ideal performance capabilities for
a future electrified vehicle application.”
This agreement builds on existing development contracts between
GM and A123 focused on next-generation lithium ion battery technology
at both the cell and system level.
“Today’s announcement is the latest milestone in the
partnership between GM and A123, and it showcases the type of collaboration
between U.S. companies necessary to build a long-term domestic battery
and electric vehicle industry,” said Jason Forcier, vice president
of the Automotive Solutions Group at A123 Systems.
“This is a testament to GM’s continued commitment to
leading the adoption of vehicle electrification technologies, and
we believe that our selection as GM’s supplier for this global
vehicle program validates our system-level expertise in delivering
fully integrated battery packs for electric vehicles.”
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM,
TSX: GMM), one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its
roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM
employs 208,000 people in every major region of the world and does
business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners
produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these
vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac,
Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall,
and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is China, followed
by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada,
and Italy. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in
vehicle safety, security and information services. More information
on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
About A123 Systems
A123 Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:
AONE) develops and manufactures advanced lithium ion batteries and
battery systems for the transportation, electric grid services and
commercial markets. Headquartered in Massachusetts and founded in
2001, A123 Systems' proprietary nanoscale electrode technology is
built on initial developments from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. For additional information please visit www.a123systems.com.
Source: A123 Systems
/ General Motors
Photo
credit: www.a123systems.com
Expanded
view of an A123 passenger vehicle battery system
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