PowerGenix to make nickel-zinc batteries in China
PowerGenix, a U.S. manufacturer of nickel-zinc batteries, has formed a 49-51 joint venture with China City Construction Corp. to produce batteries for China's automotive market.
The joint venture, CCCC-PowerGenix Clean Energy Co., initially will produce batteries for start-stop micro hybrid systems. The plant will be located in Anhui province in central China.
By the end of the year, the partnership's factory will have the capacity to produce 400,000 batteries per year.
Start-stop systems require robust starter batteries because the engine must shut down and restart whenever the vehicle comes to a full stop.
This could prove to be a fast-growing market for battery suppliers.
Pike Research estimates that the micro-hybrid segment will grow to 34 million vehicles a year by 2015.
