Ford Motor Co. has selected Panasonic Corp. as the supplier of lithium-ion battery cells for its Fusion and C-Max hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) and Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids.
Panasonic is currently a supplier of both lithium-ion and nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-MH) battery cells and systems for EVs to a number of auto manufacturers, including Ford. SANYO Electric Co. Ltd., which was acquired by Panasonic last year, has been supplying Ni-MH technologies for the Ford Escape and Lincoln MKZ hybrid vehicles since 2004. The partnership is now expanded to include lithium-ion cells for the four Ford hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.