Mitsubishi Increase Production of Lithium-Ion battery for electric cars

Once electric cars began aggressively marketed toward the end of this year by Mitsubishi and Nissan, the anticipation that made the business person is to quickly produce automotive lithium-ion batteries in bulk. One of the companies who are ready to produce these batteries are Lithium Energy Japan (LEJ), the result of a joint venture between GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation.

According to Mitsubishi, LEJ was established in 2007 to support the electric car program, iMiEV. The new factory will be built in Ritto, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. This factory is planned to start production in early 2011 with a capacity of 4.4 million cells a year. Or adequate to meet the electricity needs of 50 000 units of Mitsubishi cars, iMiE

LEJ also will start mass production of lithium-ion batteries through its first factory in Kusatsu end of June. This plant, when operating at full capacity, resulting in 200 000 cell batteries (enough for 2300 electric vehicles per year). Furthermore, the "line" both from the factory will produce 400 000 cells (enough for 4500 electric vehicle). Total production capacity to 600,000 factory in Kusatsu cells (for 6800 electric car).

Another LEJ factory began production in December this year is the Kyoto (GS-Yuasa Kyoto). This factory production capacity of 1 million cells per year (to 11 000 electric cars). Also described, LEJ has goal should develop a technology that allows production of lithium-ion batteries for 10,000 electric cars per year on a "line" only.

In fiscal year 2012 second, third LEJ factory in Kusatsu, Kyoto and Ritto will produce 6 million cells (enough for 67 800 electric cars). To establish the plant, the LEJ get subsidies from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan in the framework of campaign "Regional Development Company Greed Subsidy Towards Employment Program" for fiscal year 2009.