Monday 16 February 2009

VOLKSWAGEN AND TOSHIBA FIND ELECTRICITY


Volkswagen AG has chosen Japanese firm Toshiba to be its supplier for future batteries which will power its vehicles. According to the two giants, Toshiba will work on superior battery technology that will be fitted in future electric-powered VWs and possibly Audis, SEATS, Skodas and Bentleys even. Maybe Lamborghini could also benefit. The lithium-ion battery is to be the main focus of the companies’ R&D on this technology.


VW wants to be the first manufacturer in the world to mass-market electric vehicles like ones based on the Up! Concept (pictured) and this agreement with Toshiba is the first step towards that. Other motor manufacturers are not lying still though and have begun their own electric programmes as well. BMW has a few hundred electric MINIs called MINI Es running around in the US and Germany as part of a massive consumer test. Small-scale automakers like Tesla are already selling electric cars albeit in very limited numbers.

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