Fuji President says Toyota may not be sole battery supplier

[Bakemono]

http://www.nyse.com/interface/jsp/NHDetail.jsp?RequestID=2&pageID=NewsHeadlines&sid= ON%2006/17%20115&isdowjones=true

TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (7270.TO) President Ikuo Mori said Tuesday that the maker of Subaru brand cars is open to procuring batteries for its electric cars from any battery maker, and doesn't want to limit its suppliers to a battery-making subsidiary of its partner, Toyota Motor Corp. ( 7203.TO).
"It's not necessary to stick to Toyota and Panasonic. We want to procure ( batteries) from whoever can offer reasonable prices with good quality," Mori told reporters after a press conference for the launch of the company's new minivan.

Toyota, which owns a 8.7% stake in Fuji Heavy, makes batteries for the Prius and other hybrid models at its 60% owned subsidiary, Panasonic EV Energy Co. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (6752.TO), the maker of Panasonic brand consumer electronics, owns the rest of the unit.
The battery maker is ramping up production capacity and plans to produce next- generation lithium-ion batteries.
Mori's comments signal Fuji Heavy's openness to finding more competitive suppliers if Panasonic EV Energy cannot meet its needs as it battles rivals in the race to mass-produce electric cars.
Mori said it is too early to expect affordable electric cars for the average car owner.
Even so, as more battery makers are outlining production plans for the next several years, "the price (of batteries) may begin to drop sharply" once they full-scale production, Mori said.

I dont blame Fuji for shopping around if Panasonic cant provide them with the production numbers they need.

[Sulu]

Fuji Heavy Industries may not get its batteries from Toyota/Panasonic, but I believe that sooner rather than later, it will enter into a partnership with a battery manufacturer, just like Toyota and Panasonic, Nissan and NEC, and Volkswagen and Sanyo. That way, they can have a better guarantee of the quality and quantity they need. Why else would GM consider buying its BAS battery supplier Cobasys, and Chrysler partner with GE for hybrid batteries?

As an aside, Sanyo supplied hybrid batteries to both Honda and Ford. Does anyone know if this relationship continues, or is Sanyo only working with Volkswagen now?

[Bakemono]

It would seem that Ford's batteries are being supplied by Johnson Controls-Saft.
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...10/089529.html

MILWAUKEE, June 10 -- As increasing numbers of consumers look for fuel-efficient, low emission vehicle options, a test fleet of Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is making its way on the road today. Powered by lithium-ion batteries from Johnson Controls-Saft, the demonstration fleet will examine the future of PHEVs as part of a complete vehicle, home and grid energy system. The fleet is the result of an ongoing collaboration among Ford, Johnson Controls-Saft, Southern California Edison (SCE) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
"This fleet demonstrates a major step forward toward validating plug-in hybrid vehicle technology," said Mary Ann Wright, who leads the Johnson Controls-Saft joint venture and is vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls' hybrid battery business. "PHEVs, which have the ability to drive an extended range on electric-only power, can significantly reduce emissions and improve fuel economy."
The 20-vehicle fleet will be tested first in California by SCE and later by other utilities in the New York/ New Jersey area, to help determine regional differences in vehicle usage and performance, as well as how PHEVs will affect the electric grid system and associated infrastructure requirements. The first unit was delivered to California in December; additional units will be on the road in June.
The outcome of the fleet will help to continue to address barriers to commercialization including cost, technology validation, and strategies for charging the vehicles.
"PHEVs have great promise, but we are still working to fully address all of the technical and business challenges that stand in the way of commercialization," said Nancy Gioia, director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies at Ford Motor Company. "Ultimately such vehicles must provide real value to consumers, utilities, automakers and suppliers."
PHEVs are part of a family of electric-drive technologies that could play an important role in achieving national objectives of energy security and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while also reducing fuel costs.
The research and analysis of the demonstration fleet will include data from four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage, and grid infrastructure. The analysis will also explore possible stationary and secondary usages for advanced batteries. The combined expertise of the partners in this project -- Ford, Johnson Controls-Saft, SCE and EPRI -- is designed to advance a greater understanding of a vehicle, home and grid energy system.
Johnson Controls-Saft is a joint venture that has brought together Johnson Controls -- the world's leading supplier of automotive batteries and a company deeply experienced in integrated automotive systems solutions -- with Saft, an advanced energy storage solutions provider with extensive Li-ion battery expertise.