Bosch-GS Yuasa-Mitsubishi JV looks for giant leap in electric vehicle battery technology

German automotive technology giant Robert Bosch GmbH and Japanese companies GS Yuasa International Ltd and Mitsubishi Corporation have set up a joint venture for developing the next-generation lithium-ion battery technology.

The next generation of lithium-ion batteries would have double the energy of the present batteries.

Known as Lithium Energy and Power GmbH & Co KG, the new company is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

Development of the next generation of lithium-ion battery is key to successful mass production of electric vehicles, according to Bosch.

''In setting up this joint venture, we want to achieve nothing less than a giant leap forward in the development of battery technology. Our aim is to make lithium-ion batteries twice as efficient,'' says Volkmar Denner, who, as chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, is responsible for research and development.

The success of electric vehicles depend on battery efficiency, which would mean greater range, affordability and size.

Electromobility is an important step toward making mobility climate-friendly and sustainable and Bosch and its partners expect electromobility to become a mass market from 2020.

The joint venture Lithium Energy and Power GmbH & Co KG was set up in November 2013. Bosch holds a 50 per cent stake with GS Yuasa International Ltd and Mitsubishi Corporation each holding 25 per cent in the JV.

The joint venture board has Rolf Speicher from Robert Bosch GmbH, Toshio Ohara from GS Yuasa International Ltd and Yutaka Kashiwagi from Mitsubishi Corporation as members.

They will initially head a team of some 70 associates in Germany and Japan.

Bosch will support these joint activities with its entire portfolio of components like monitoring and control of cells and complete systems, as well as in integrating them into vehicles.

In addition, it will contribute its know-how in production processes and quality management relating to the large-scale series production of complex products.

GS Yuasa, based in Kyoto, will contribute in the manufacture of lithium-ion battery cells whose high density makes for a longer range, as well as its expertise in materials systems and electrochemistry.

GS Yuasa has a strong engineering team and modern production lines with a high level of automation.

Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Corporation will contribute its global sales network and experience as an integrated global business enterprise.

In addition, Mitsubishi will use its strengths in the establishment of global value-added chains – which include raw materials, semi-finished products, and marketing – to take the joint venture forward.

For the Bosch Group, automotive technology is the largest business segment, which accounted for €30.7 billion, or 66 per cent of total group sales in 2013.