Sanyo completes construction of lithium-ion battery facility in Japan

Sanyo Electric Co., a common name in the rechargeable battery industry, has completed construction of its new production facility for lithium-ion automotive batteries. The li-ion facility is located on the grounds of the company's Kasai Plant in Hyogo prefecture, Japan. The new factory is currently capable of producing up to one million battery cells per month, but output could be increased if demand is sufficient to warrant it.

Though Sanyo is a leading supplier for automotive nickel metal hydride batteries, its work with li-ion technology is still ramping up. Sanyo has partnered with Volkswagen to co-develop li-ion batteries for the company's upcoming hybrid models and will supply Suzuki with lithium-ion batteries for its plug-in hybrid fleet vehicles. Sanyo has big dreams, though, and has said it wants to capture 40 percent of the entire global automotive rechargeable battery market by 2020. Follow the jump to learn more about Sanyo's new li-ion facility.

[Source: Sanyo]

PRESS RELEASE

SANYO Completes New Factory for Li-ion Batteries for Eco-friendly Vehicles
Expanding battery production capacity to meet the growing global demand for eco-friendly vehicles

Tokyo, July 30, 2010 - SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), a world leader of rechargeable battery technologies, is pleased to announce the completion of SANYO's new factory for the lithium-ion batteries for eco-friendly vehicles in its Kasai Plant (Kasai city, Hyogo prefecture, Japan.)

Given the growing public concern for conserving the environment, SANYO is enhancing the development of rechargeable batteries for eco-friendly vehicles, which is expecting increased market demand. SANYO has already been supplying nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) to Ford, Honda and Volkswagen, while a co-development of the NiMH batteries with PSA Peugeot Citroen.

In addition, SANYO is co-developing lithium-ion batteries for HEV with the Volkswagen group. SANYO lithium-ion batteries for Plug-in HEV will also be housed in SUZUKI's fleet vehicles.

The completion of the new factory will make it possible for SANYO to further meet demands of the lithium-ion batteries for eco-friendly vehicles from various auto makers. The factory will start with a production capacity of 1 million cells per month, with the aim to expand the production scale depending on demand.

SANYO is focusing on a global expansion of its rechargeable battery business for eco-friendly vehicles with aggressive investments in the business.

Outline of the new factory

1. Construction cost: Approximately 13 billion yen (excluding costs for incidental works etc)
2. Construction schedule: Groundbreaking in September 2009, Completion in July 2010
3. Total floor area: 42,831m2 (five-story)
4. Product: Lithium-ion batteries for eco-friendly vehicles
5. Production capacity: 1 million cells per month at the beginning (planned)

Outline of current Kasai Plant (as of July 2010)

1. Name: Kasai Plant
2. Address:1 94-4 Tokonabe-cho, Kasai-city, Hyogo prefecture, Japan
3. Site area: Approximately 188,000 m2
4. Description of business: Development and production of NiMH battery systems for HEV
Development of home appliances such as vacuum cleaners, massage chairs and electric hybrid bicycles etc.