Volkswagen has reached an agreement with Sanyo to work on new and efficient high-performance storage systems based on lithium-ion technology that will be used on the VW Group’s forthcoming hybrid models. The Group believes that it will to be able to employ lithium-ion technology in its first vehicles by 2011. “Our focus in future,will be directed more strongly at making electrically powered automobiles alongside ones driven by more efficient combustion engines,” said Martin Winterkorn, CEO of the VW Group. “Drivetrain electrification is the way forward if we wish to secure mobility in tomorrow’s world. This will involve energy recovery. The whole idea will be to no avail, however, as long as we do not have powerful energy storage systems at our disposal and as long as vehicle operations are not in tune with customer demands. This cooperation is an important step for us,” Winterkorn added.
