Considering the growing need for eco-friendly cars, Panasonic Corporation Japan has developed a new technology for binding together Lithium-ion batteries meant for laptop PCs to power electric cars.  Panasonic claims to have discovered this new and cheaper method for connecting the cells by using existing production facilities.  It was Tesla Motors who were the pioneers in building a battery pack made up of 6,831 laptop PC battery cells for the Roadster. Panasonic went a step ahead by producing lithium ion and nickel metal hydride batteries for Toyota’s hybrid and plug-in vehicles.

Panasonic Japan is in this business of manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for computers for quiet sometime now.  They also manufacture the normal bulky rechargeable batteries meant for cars and other vehicles.  However, with the announcement of using computer batteries for cars, Panasonic has become first electronic company to venture into advanced battery making for automobiles.  Usually these kinds of batteries for electric vehicles are being created by established automakers or small companies which specialize in with manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles.

According to Panasonic, they can cut down the price of manufacturing batteries for electric cars by using their existing battery plant and production facilities.  Till now,  battery packs for electric vehicles are specially designed or assembled to meet specific design requirements and this drives the cost of electric car up compared to other gas vehicles. Having most of the facilities already set up, Panasonic  has this advantage of succeeding in this business of manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for automobiles.  While most of the automakers like Ford, Nissan and General Motors are competing for building or converting existing assembly lines, Panasonic has actually worked on cost cutting technology.

Despite of having all facilities, Panasonic still has a long way to go and hit the market with its latest batteries.  It may take about four years for these newly developed batteries for cars to be available in the market.  These  batteries can also be used to store electricity from fuel cells, wind turbines and residential solar panels, apart from powering electric cars. Thus, these batteries also have a good potential market in the home renewable energy sector.

Talks were on for a long time about Panasonic entering automotive market with its latest battery but now the real story is out.  Even though it’s prime competitor, Sony has announced long back about creating batteries for automobiles, but it is Panasonic which has actually done it.  Other companies like LG, BYD and Samsung are also trying to venture in to this market of manufacturing automotive batteries.

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