August 03 2009   Source: Bryan Joslin via BMW

BMW Signs Deal for Electric Car Batteries

BMW has signed on with SB LiMotive to supply battery cells for its upcoming electric cars. The future range, which may include the Isetta brand as well as MINI models, will be powered by satte-of-the-art lithium ion batteries, which should help ensure a decent range as well as improved performance over today's NiCad batteries.

The company who will supply the battery modules, SB LiMotive, is a 50:50 joint venture between Korea's Samung SDI and Germany's Bosch. Presumably the venture will build upon the strengths of each manufacturer in their respective areas of competence —Samsung's expertise in lithium-ion battery technology and Bosch's experience in the automotive sector.

BMW has committed to building an emissions-free, 100% electric vehicle starting sometime in the first half of the next decade, perhaps as early as 2012. Locking in the battery technology supplier is the first step in taking the company's electric car strategy forward.