There is probably no one left doubting that electric vehicles will be a huge market in the future, and now it seems that Sony is agreeing, too. The company yesterday announced it will start making lithium-ion batteries specifically for electric cars and hybrids “from the middle of this decade”.
A Sony VP said his company expects demand for such batteries to grow drastically in the years to come, adding big S is ready to build dedicated plants in Japan and elsewhere if necessary. Details are scarce at this point, but a first battery prototype for electric vehicles that was shown to the press yesterday measures 257 x 182mm and apparently boasts a long life.
According to reports in various Japanese newspapers from today, Sony has already started offering its batteries to major electric car makers in Japan and elsewhere.
The picture above shows the Tesla, which is using Panasonic batteries (Panasonic is also an investor).
Via Mainichi Shimbun [JP]