GM, Ford and Toyota chose non-American batteries for PHEV

[HoosierRon]

Escape PHEV batteries to be made in France

The company has now been revealed and it's Johnson Controls-Saft, which has a dedicated li-ion battery plant in France. Johnson Controls will be providing the li-ion batteries for all of the PHEV Escapes for Ford's demonstration fleet (including those at the Electric Power Research Institute) as it grows from the one or two on the road today to 20 in the coming year and a half.

Vue PHEV batteries to be made in France

Among other projects they are one of the two suppliers chosen for GM's Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid program. Saft has also provided lithium ion battery packs for concept vehicles such as the Chevy Sequel and Ford HySeries drive Edge. The two companies are opening a new plant in Nersac, France to manufacture lithium batteries for a variety of car-makers including Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and General Motors.

Toyota PHEV to get batteries from Matsush ita partnership

The joint venture that Toyota set up with Matsush ita Electric Industrial Co., which makes Panasonic products, will begin producing lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and move into full-scale production in 2010, Toyota said.

[Greg Burr]

I thought Toyota publicly poo-pooed lithium-ion batteries for its cars.

[ronald mcretard]

not surprising. imagine how fast the UAW would try to infiltrate U.S. battery manufacturers if they were chosen to be automotive suppliers.

[PRO_USA1776]

The last time I looked Johnson Controls was American, but that is what happens when American consumers say they don't care where their products come from! Until it affects their schools, roads, hospitals, etc...enough about that. I am happy that Johnson-Controls Saft got GM and Ford's contracts. Good for them!

[igotzzoom]

"Hoh, hoh! We mekh ze best batteries, oui, oui!!"

[drew630]

Well, France is better than China, Taiwan, or Japan IMO. Still, I wish they could have produced the batteries here.

[tholland]

Originally Posted by Greg Burr

I thought Toyota publicly poo-pooed lithium-ion batteries for its cars.

They used a pooper scooper and did an about face.

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by tholland

They used a pooper scooper and did an about face.

Like GM did with hybrids?

[Clownzilla]

Originally Posted by PRO_USA1776

The last time I looked Johnson Controls was American, but that is what happens when American consumers say they don't care where their products come from! Until it affects their schools, roads, hospitals, etc...enough about that. I am happy that Johnson-Controls Saft got GM and Ford's contracts. Good for them!

Americans don't care to support overpaid union workers that demand WAY too much in today's economy and hurt others when they don't get what they want. Why on God's green earth would ANYBODY build a new factory or new factory projects in the USA when unionization by the UAW-CAW cash vampires is inevitable.

[Rocket 88]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Escape PHEV batteries to be made in France
Vue PHEV batteries to be made in France
Toyota PHEV to get batteries from Matsush ita partnership

GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Mercedes buy batteries produced in France.
Toyota buys from Japan. Am I suppose to be surprised by where Toyota's loyalties are? Anyway, I can't blame them. The Japanese government is probably throwing in a few bucks.

Can't wait to see Toyota's next commercial telling me how American they are and how many Americans they own...err employ.

[tholland]

Originally Posted by logansowner

Like GM did with hybrids?

Exactly! LOL

[windvale]

Originally Posted by logansowner

Like GM did with hybrids?

Touche !

[ericmvest]

Originally Posted by windvale

Touche !

You can say touche to every car company except Toyota and maybe Honda. Even though Honda's Insight was a flop, Honda was an early adopter of hybrid technology.

[packardlust]

Originally Posted by ronald mcretard

not surprising. imagine how fast the UAW would try to infiltrate U.S. battery manufacturers if they were chosen to be automotive suppliers.

Do you actually believe a major manufacturing plant in France is not unionized?

[racy]

Originally Posted by ronald mcretard

not surprising. imagine how fast the UAW would try to infiltrate U.S. battery manufacturers if they were chosen to be automotive suppliers.

Frankly, I could care less about unionization or even manufacture location. What worries me is that the United States is simply behind everyone else in battery technology. This, I find bothersome.