Sanyo Supplying Li-ion Batteries for Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid
11 June 2010
Sanyo Electric recently announced an agreement with Suzuki Motor to supply lithium-ion battery systems for the Swift Plug-in Hybrid. (Earlier post.) Suzuki has already announced its intention to start manufacturing the vehicles.
The plug-in is powered by a 55 kW, 180 N·m AC synchronous motor and a 2.66 kWh Li-ion battery pack. The 0.66L engine is the K6A, earlier versions of which were used in the Cappuccino.
The Swift Plug-in Hybrid will serve as a model supported by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The new model will serve as a demonstration experiment and the experiment will be implemented at Suzuki dealers from this autumn.
Sanyo has been supplying nickel-metal hydride batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) to Honda and Ford since 2004. Sanyo has also been carrying out joint development with the Volkswagen Group for next-generation nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion battery systems, as well as with PSA Peugeot Citroen for a nickel-metal hydride battery system. Sanyo sees this new partnership as a way to further enhance its relationship with Suzuki and further appeal its strengths in next-generation battery technology for automobiles.
Sanyo plans to accelerate the development and commercialization of high-performance batteries, and is working on global business expansion of rechargeable automotive batteries.
This could turn out to be a common sense PHEV with a smaller lower cost battery pack from a major supplier and smaller common sense genset. It could also become a lower cost affordable PHEV if mass produced.
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 June 2010 at 03:58 PM
Even if the small engine has to run most of the time it still gets 60mpg
Posted by: 3PeaceSweet | 12 June 2010 at 02:07 AM
this is stupid and late
suzuki should be doing small electric cars
a swift all electric would be selling milions and make them rich
lets hope dont be too late for them
hybrids today dont make sense
Posted by: luis | 12 June 2010 at 01:08 PM
2.6 kWh is only twice what the current Prius has.
Interesting that they can make a PHEV out of that, it suggests that life and cycle are much improved for their latest LiIon variant.
Posted by: clett | 14 June 2010 at 02:06 AM