MILWAUKEE (AFX) - Johnson Controls Inc. said its joint venture with Saft Advanced Power Solutions got a 24-month contract from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) to develop advanced, lithium-ion batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The battery consortium, which is financing half the project, pursues research and development on advanced energy systems to boost the range and performance of future electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Members include the Department of Energy, DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.
The Johnson Controls project will focus on accelerating lithium-ion technology development by improving battery power in low temperatures and trying to reduce battery system costs.
The Johnson Control-Saft venture, which launched in January, will supply cell modules that can be tested for abuse tolerance, pulse power, calendar life, and cycle life.
A team in Milwaukee will lead the technology development program, while cell development will be supported by plants in the U.S. and Europe. A major goal is to meet the Freedom CAR USABC battery-performance requirements, an industry-government research initiative to boost fuel economy and reduce emissions of U.S. passenger vehicles.
Shares of Johnson Controls gained rose 50 cents to $74.03 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
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