Car blogs

In an obvious move to shore up its access to state-of-the-art advanced batteries for electric vehicles, Volkswagen is setting up a joint venture with Varta Microbattery to develop EV power packs, Europe's biggest carmaker said today.


Volkswagen already collaborates with Japan's Toshiba and Sanyo as well as with China's BYD on battery technology.


The announcement comes less than a month after VW presented a prototype of the e-Up! plug-in electric vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the intention of launching the vehicle in Europe in 2013.


Only days later, VW said it was also planning on introducing a slightly larger electric vehicle in the U.S. The company, which was slow to jump on the EV bandwagon, was quickly forming pacts with battery-makers and announcing bold plans for EV production.


In a statement issued today, VW said the project with Varta aims to undertake research and development of highly advanced and yet cost competitive lithium-ion batteries.


The four-year project still requires approval from German authorities.

Tags: Auto Shows, Batteries, China, Emissions, Plug-ins and Electric, Volkswagen, Frankfurt Motor Show, Lithium-ion, Plug-in EV, Sanyo Electric, Toshiba, Varta, Volkswagen E-Up!

---

Volkswagen, Varta Forming JV to Develop Advanced Batteries for Electric Vehicles was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.