Honda/GS Yuasa JV starts construction of lithium battery plant
Blue Energy, the recently announced joint venture between Honda Motor Company and GS Yuasa, has begun construction of a new battery manufacturing plant. A groundbreaking was held this week for the Osadano Plant in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto where Blue Energy will develop and produce lithium ion batteries for future Honda hybrid vehicles. Production of batteries at the factory should start in the fall of 2010.
Honda has repeatedly said that it doesn't see plug-in vehicles as being particularly practical in the foreseeable future and doesn't plan any pure battery electric vehicles or even plug-in hybrids. Instead, the lithium ion batteries will be used in new hybrid models to replace nickel metal hydride with a smaller, lighter energy storage package. The first and so far only Honda with a lithium battery is actually the FCX Clarity fuel cell sedan.
Gallery: Honda FCX Concept
[Source: Honda]
Blue Energy Begins Construction of New Plant
KYOTO, Japan, April 21, 2009 - Blue Energy Co., Ltd., a new joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda for the manufacturing, sales and R&D of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles, held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of its Osadano Plant in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by approximately 100 dignitaries and guests, including Keiji Yamada, the governor of Kyoto prefecture and Masaji Matsuyama, the mayor of Fukuchiyama city, as well as Makoto Yoda, president and CEO of GS Yuasa Corporation, Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Masahiko Oshitani, president and CEO of Blue Energy Co., Ltd.
The new plant is scheduled to begin production sometime around fall 2010.
About Blue Energy Co., Ltd.
Establishment April 1, 2009
Headquarters 1, Inobanba-cho, Nishinosho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto
Capital 3 billion yen
Future capital increase to 15 billion yen is planned.
Capital Ratio 51% GS Yuasa Power Supply Ltd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of GS Yuasa Corporation)
49% Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Description of business Manufacturing, sales and R&D of high-performance lithium-ion batteries
President and CEO Masahiko Oshitani
About the new Osadano Plant
Location 1-37 Osadano-cho, Fukuchiyama, Kyoto
(within the property of GS Yuasa's Osadano operation)
Lot Size 16,000m2
Investment amount Approximately 25 billion yen
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 8:18PM (4/23/2009)
Another furure bankrupcy, im sure that goverment legislation and subsidies should be behind it. Consumers will never buy batteries cars. Consumers have just paniked because the natural ressources cartel have hack the price of gasoline and diesel worldwide and they ask for the only idea they know that is batteries. many bloggers here are protecting petrol abuses by promising subsidized batteries. Green car exists, don't despair. Go in dealerships and ask for a green car that don't pollute and that don't have fuel cost, if there is not then leave the place and keep your used car forever. Mexico do that and the old cars work fine because they forge the parts when they get worn-out.
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SteveCT 9:49PM (4/23/2009)
Gorr, no one can understand anything you say. Why do you even bother posting?
Anyway, I hope Honda comes to its senses and starts building EVs when the market shifts. Enough with the hydrogen fantasy already--maybe it'll be viable in 50 years, but right now it seems an awful lot like that old nuclear-powered Ford concept car: ridiculous.
Chris M 12:05AM (4/24/2009)
But people are already buying battery electric cars, Gorr! Tesla Motors has already delivered over 400 cars to paying customers, and has nearly 2,000 orders. Both Apera and Fisker have a long list of orders from eager customers, even before production starts. There are also people eagerly awaiting EVs and PHEVs from Mitsubishi, Nissan/Renault, Think, Joules, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Ford,
The only green non-polluting cars now available for purchase are powered by batteries, H2 fuel cells cost too much. The only cars "without fuel cost" are custom built solar powered cars that are expensive and not for sale, and soapbox derby cars that only go downhill. Sorry, Gorr, but none of the automotive engineers believe that a car can be powered by an onboard electrolyzer, so they are not going to build you a "water car" no matter how often you ask.
Dude 9:31AM (4/25/2009)
Consumers are already buying "batteries cars". On the other hand, nobody is buying FC cars.
Chris M 11:42PM (4/23/2009)
Hmm, so Honda doesn't plan on making EVs or PHEVs, but is investing in a battery plant? Well, it could be for the electric motorbikes they plan on making, and maybe they plan more hybrid models, and even a few for the handful of FCX Clarity cars they might make, if they get enough government subsidies.
But despite the denials, I think Honda is also keeping their options open for future EV or PHEV models, if the demand is high enough.
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jpm 12:42AM (4/24/2009)
Well said, I agree.
A former co-worker of mine used to work for Honda. Whenever we talked cars or motorcycles he always stressed that Honda is at heart an engine company. This corroborates their reluctance to move to EVs.
Sasparilla 2:55PM (4/24/2009)
Hmmmnnn, they want to switch to a more expensive (at this point) battery type that doesn't have the durability demonstrated by the nickel metal hydride (when used properly) for future hybrid vehicles they'll make - even though this battery type is used almost exclusively for EV or PHEV vehicles? This could be true.
Honda is smart, they won't lead the way to EV's or plug in hybrid's (which is too bad, they'd make awesome ones) but I think they will be ready with all the technologies they need when the shift starts happening - which isn't too far away. They're positioning themselves for the inevitable and making sure they have experience with this battery type beforehand.
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