French, US firms ally for electric car batteries
French industrial group Dassault and US joint venture Dow Kokam on Tuesday announced a preliminary agreement on a partnership to create batteries for electric and hybrid cars.
"This strategic partnership with Dassault highlights Dow Kokam's intent to accelerate the supply of vehicle-ready battery systems to grow the market," Heinz Haller, a Dow Kokam board member, said in a statement.
The two companies have already been working together since 2008 and have jointly developed Cleanbat, a battery system technology for lithium-ion batteries with liquid-cooled thermal management and high precision electronics.
Electric cars have been a centrepiece at this month's Frankfurt auto show, where an array of top auto companies, including German giant Volkswagen and US giant Ford, displayed new electric and hybrid models.
(c) 2009 AFP
