Panasonic to supply nickel metal hydride battery systems for Subaru’s first hybrid EV

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Panasonic Corp on Friday announced that it will supply nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery systems for Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd’s first-ever hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid designed for sale in the U.S. will be unveiled at the 2013 New York International Auto Show next week and go on sale in the U.S. in autumn.

With a rising environmental consciousness, demand for rechargeable batteries for eco-friendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly. Panasonic is already supplying Ni-MH battery cells and systems for hybrid electric vehicles to a growing number of automotive manufacturers around the world, as well as lithium-ion battery cells and systems for hybrids, plug-in hybrids andnelectric vehicles.

Panasonic started developing Ni-MH battery cells for HEVs in 1997 and has been mass producing them since 2004. Panasonic’s Ni-MH battery cells are durable and able to maintain a high charging/discharging capacity over an extended period of time, thanks to the company’s unique battery manufacturing technologies, including polar plate sintering technology.