Apr 02, 2013

Panasonic to Supply Nickel Metal Hydride Battery Systems for Subaru's First Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Panasonic Corporation today announced that it will supply nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery systems for Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s first-ever hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid designed for sale in the U.S. will be unveiled at the 2013 New York International Auto Show (Press Days: March 27 and 28; Public Days: March 29 through April 7, 2013). The car will go on sale in the U.S. in autumn this year.

With a rising environmental consciousness, demand for rechargeable batteries for eco-friendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly. Panasonic is building up its battery business to meet such demand. The company is already supplying Ni-MH battery cells and systems for hybrid electric vehicles to a growing number of automotive manufactuers around the world, as well as lithium-ion battery cells and systems for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

Panasonic to Supply Nickel Metal Hydride Battery Systems for Subaru's First Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Panasonic Ni-MH Battery Cell for Automobiles

Panasonic started developing Ni-MH battery cells for HEVs in 1997 and has been mass producing them since 2004. Panasonic's Ni-MH battery cells are durable and able to maintain a high charging/discharging capacity over an extended period of time, thanks to the company’s unique battery manufacturing technologies, including polar plate sintering technology(*1). Panasonic also has many years of experience in building battery systems, such as those incorporating battery cells with a control unit that optimizes the performance of each battery cell.

Recognizing the performance of Panasonic’s battery cells and systems as well as its good track record in the market, Fuji Heavy Industries has selected Panasonic as the battery system supplier for the first HEV model of the Subaru brand.

Panasonic will continue to accelerate the development and commercialization of high performance battery cells and systems to expand its eco-car battery business on a global scale.

*1 Technology involving firing of metal nickel powder at high temperatures for manufacturing rigid, porous nickel substrate.