Toyota to develop lithium ion battery

NAGOYA December 18, 2005; Japan Today reported that Toyota Motor Corp will accelerate efforts to develop a practical lithium ion battery to power hybrid motor vehicles in a bid to reinforce its presence in the market for the environment-friendly cars, officials said Friday.

The project will be promoted by Panasonic EV Energy Co, a joint venture between Toyota and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co in Kosai, Shizuoka Prefecture, in line with the biggest Japanese automaker's program to develop a smaller, more powerful hybrid vehicle, they said.

© 2005 Kyodo News