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Press Release: USABC AWARDS $8.2 MILLION BATTERY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT TO JOHNSON CONTROLS-SAFT
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 12, 2008 – The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), an organization whose members are Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation, today (Aug.12) announced the award of a $8.2 million plug-in hybrid electric battery technology development contract to Johnson Controls-Saft (JCS) of Milwaukee, Wis. USABC formally awarded the contract earlier this year, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which previously announced the award, pending agreement on all terms and conditions. The 24-month cost-share contract is for the development of battery cell, module and pack technology for plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV) applications. USABC is a division of the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC (USCAR). Enabled by a cooperative agreement with the DOE, USABC’s mission is to develop electrochemical energy storage technologies that support commercialization of fuel cell, hybrid and electric vehicles. The JCS contract is for the development of lithium-ion battery systems to meet USABC PHEV goals of low cost, long life, high power and high energy. In the course of the program, JCS will develop PHEV battery systems targeted to meet the goals set by the USABC for 10- mile and 40-mile all-electric range plug-in hybrid vehicles. “We are pleased to announce the award of this contract to Johnson Controls-Saft as part of USABC’s broad battery technology research and development program,” said Don Walkowicz, executive director of USCAR. “The program is important to advancing both near and long-term goals for plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle transportation.” The new JCS contract follows research previously conducted with USABC to develop lithium-ion battery systems for hybrid electric vehicle applications. The U.S. DOE's overarching mission is to advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program works with industry to develop advanced transportation technologies that reduce the nation's use of imported oil and increase our energy security. Electrochemical energy storage has been identified as a critical enabling technology for advanced, fuel-efficient, light and heavy duty vehicles. Founded in 1992, USCAR is the umbrella organization for collaborative research among Chrysler, Ford and GM. The goal of USCAR is to further strengthen the technology base of the domestic auto industry through cooperative research and development. Click here to download a copy of this press release. |
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