Johnson Controls Wins BMW Battery Contract - 10/20/08

Johnson Controls-Saft wins a second contract with its lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric cars.

They will supply batteries to BMW for its 7 Series sedan.  The 7 Series ActiveHybrid sedans can be seen at the Paris Auto Show this month.

JC-Saft plant in France will open in January and will also be making batteries for a Mercedes hybrid electric sedan as well.

Alex Molinaroli, president of Johnson Controls power solution business says they are forecasting that 6% of the world’s auto sales will be hybrids by 2020 with 2 million hybrid vehicles by 2010.

Johnson Controls is the world’s largest maker of lead acid car batteries.  They are partnering with the French based company Saft that specializes in advanced batteries.

Johnson Controls-Saft is competing with other battery manufactures to develop lithium-ion batteries, which are 50% lighter and 30% smaller than nickel-metal hydride found in the Toyota Prius Hybrid.

Molinaroli stated the BMW and Mercedes contracts show they will be the first to market with these new batteries.

The battery market is fast moving away from nickel-metal hydride to the better lithium.

JC-Saft is also working with Ford, Chrysler, Chinese automakers SAIC and Chevy.

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