12 Jun Johnson Controls-Saft to get $10M for hybrid batteries
Milwaukee, Wis. – With gasoline prices reaching record levels and no relief in sight, a Milwaukee based maker of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid plug-in vehicles will receive $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The allocation, which is subject to Congressional approval, will provide $10 million over three years to Johnson Controls–Saft, a joint venture to produce batteries for electric-gas hybrid vehicles. The company already has been selected to provide battery technology for a test fleet of Ford Escape plug-in vehicles.
The technology holds the promise of extending a vehicle’s driving range on electric power only, reducing emissions and improving fuel economy.
Under the DOE proposal, General Motors and General Electric also would receive $10 million each over the next three years to advance plug-in hybrid technology capable of powering a car up to 40 miles without recharging.
Johnson Controls-Saft is a joint venture that has merged the Milwaukee-based supplier of automotive batteries and Saft, a French energy storage provider with Li-ion battery expertise.
The complete Department of Energy announcement can be found here.
Related stories
• Dodge fleet to carry Johnson Controls’ plug-in hybrid car batteries
• Johnson Controls deals for asset-tracking software
• Johnson Controls adds renewable energy unit