Sony Plans To Make Batteries For Electric Vehicles

Serkan Toto

Dr. Serkan Toto is an independent consultant and advisor focusing on Japan’s web, mobile and social gaming industries. Based in Tokyo, he works together with financial institutions and startups worldwide. Serkan has been the Japan contributor for TechCrunch.com since 2008. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. → Learn More

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Tesla Motors Roadster

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]