Lithium Energy Japan building second Li-Ion plant for Mitsubishi i MiEV

Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture between GS Yuasa Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp., plans to construct a battery factory in response to Mitsubishi Motors’ plans to boost production of its i MiEV electric vehicle.

The joint venture will spend ¥2-3 billion (US$21-32 million) to build the lithium-ion battery factory in Kyoto. This facility will reportedly have sufficient capacity to produce battery packs for 15,000 vehicles a year starting in the autumn of 2010.

Lithium Energy Japan had initially intended to produce cells for packs for up to 2,000 vehicles a year at GS Yuasa’s main plant, in Kyoto, for a range of customers. In 2008, the company began construction on a factory in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, with eventual planned capacity for approximately 10,000 vehicles. At the time, the company said it was planning to add a second plant and double output by 2012.

With the rapid increase in demand for lower emitting vehicles, Mitsubishi Motors recently doubled its planned i MiEV production for fiscal 2011 to 20,000 following an agreement to supply the car to France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen Group.

In April, Blue Energy Co., Ltd., the new joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda for the manufacturing, sales and R&D of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles, held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of its Osadano Plant in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto.

Source: Green Car Congress

Mitsubishi Motors & PSA Peugeot Citroen: One step further towards EVs for Europe (三菱自動車とPSAプジョー・シトロエン社、電気自動車の提携に関する覚書を締結)

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced today that both companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles based on a vehicle currently under development by MMC in Japan (earlier post).

In June 2008, both companies started a feasibility study of the development, manufacture and use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles.

The companies have now reached an understanding that will allow PSA to partner with MMC for the development of an electric vehicle for Europe based on MMC's i MiEV, to be manufactured by MMC and sold under Peugeot brand, in parallel to Mitsubishi's own European i MiEV.

This new step would be mutually beneficial since the collaboration of MMC and PSA Peugeot Citroen will ease and accelerate the introduction of their electric vehicles in the European market.

The two companies are now in negotiations on a cooperative agreement, targeting market launch at the end of 2010 or the very beginning of 2011.

For PSA Peugeot Citroen this agreement will enable the Group to maintain its leadership in environmentally friendly cars.

With an extensive knowledge of electric vehicles, PSA Peugeot Citroen is the largest global manufacturer of electric vehicles to date, with more than 10,000 units sold. PSA Peugeot Citroen will bring to this project its expertise in the field of electric powertrains.

For MMC, this project is consistent with its worldwide electric vehicle strategy. Currently involved in testing and promotional activities in Japan, New Zealand, the United States and across Europe, the i MiEV will be launched in Japan during the summer of 2009. In parallel to the 2010 European launch of the i MiEV, MMC is examining several markets including the U.S. for the rollout of the electric vehicle.

Source: JCN Network

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Text in Japanese

三菱自動車（所在 地：東京都港区 社長：益子修 以下、MMC）とPSAプジョー・シトロエン社（所在地：フランス パリ市 会長：クリスチャン・ストレフ 以下、PSA）は、MMCが現在開発している新世代電気自動車『i MiEV （アイ ミーブ）』の協業に関する覚書（Memorandum of Understanding）を締結したと発表しました。

両社は昨年6月より電気自動車用パワートレイン^*1の 開発、生産に関する協業の可能性について検討してきましたが、欧州における電気自動車の実用化・市場投入を促進させるため、PSAとのパートナーシップの 下、『i MiEV』をベースに両社の欧州市場向け電気自動車を開発し、MMCが生産する事を基本合意しました。MMCは三菱ブランド、PSAはプジョー・ブランド で、2010年の年末、或いは2011年初めに販売を開始する計画です。

三菱自動車は、『i MiEV』の実用性確認、およびプロモーション活動をグローバルに展開しており、既に、日本、欧州、北米、ニュージーランドでの実用化のための実証試験や 調査活動を行っています。日本国内では本年夏より『i MiEV』を市場投入する計画です。海外では米国を含め順次グローバルに展開していく事を検討しています。

PSAは、環境対応車両の分野でリーダーシップを維持していきます。 同社はこれまでに10千台以上の電気自動車を販売した専門知識と経験を持ち、電気自動車の分野では世界最大の自動車メーカーです。今回の協業では、この電気自動車に関する豊富な実績を活用していきます。

^*1 電気自動車用パワートレイン： 電池、モーター、インバーター、車載充電器などの主要コンポーネント

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Report: Mitsubishi Motors to supply iMiEV to PSA

The Nikkei reports that Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will supply i MiEV electric vehicles to PSA Peugeot Citroën Group beginning as early as next year.

In June 2008, the two companies had agreed to start a feasibility study on an extended technical collaboration in the field of electric powertrains with an immediate focus on the development, manufacture and use of a powertrain for small urban electric vehicles.

Mitsubishi Motors will provide its i MiEV passenger car on an OEM basis...The supply arrangement will enable the Japanese automaker to access PSA Peugeot Citroen's extensive sales network throughout Europe. Selling electric cars under its own brand will help the French group make inroads into the market for green vehicles.

Mitsubishi Motors had envisioned producing 2,000 i MiEVs in fiscal 2009, ramping up to 4,000 and 10,000 units in the following two years. With plans to make more than 10,000 vehicles on behalf of the French group from 2011, output will double from initial estimates. The resulting increased production will help to lower costs and boost competitiveness.

The iMiEV is powered by a 16kWh Li-ion battery pack from Lithium Energy Japan—a joint venture between GS Yuasa Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC). Lithium Energy Japan recently began construction of a plant with an initial annual production capacity of about 1 million cells—enough for 10,000 vehicles. The company was planning to add a second plant and double output by 2012. The French government is providing subsidies of up to €5,000 (US$6,800) for consumers who purchase electric cars; the UK and Germany are also offering incentives.

Source: Green Car Congress