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Saft : Ford Motor Company Awards Johnson Controls-Saft the Battery Contract for its First Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 February 2009, 01:30 CST

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Johnson Controls-Saft will supply the complete battery system for Ford Motor Company's first series production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which will be introduced in 2012. Ford announced plans for the battery partnership today at the Washington Auto Show.

"This is a great day for the automotive industry in America," said Alex Molinaroli, President Johnson Controls Power Solutions. "Today, nearly all batteries for hybrid electric vehicles are manufactured offshore. As the United States works to build a manufacturing infrastructure and supply base for hybrid and electric vehicles, this contract signals significant progress for our industry here."

PHEVs can store more electrical energy than today's hybrids, allowing the vehicle to operate on electric-only power more often and for longer distances, with an estimated fuel economy improvement of 60 percent to 100 percent. The battery will power the car on full electric for 40 miles and can be recharged through a standard 120 volt electrical outlet.

"The battery is the critical piece of electrifying vehicles," says Nancy Gioia, director, Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs, Ford Motor Company. "Johnson Controls-Saft is one of the leaders focused on creating lithium-ion batteries for a new generation of personal transportation."

The battery packs are to be designed and manufactured by Johnson Controls-Saft. The packs, including cells, mechanical, electrical, electronic and thermal components, will be assembled in the United States. Initially, the cells will be produced at the Johnson Controls-Saft production facility in Nersac, France. Johnson Controls-Saft will also utilize its 58,000 square-foot Battery Technology Center in Milwaukee, the largest and most sophisticated automotive battery research and development facility in the United States, including cell design, system engineering, testing and integration.

Mary Ann Wright, who leads the Johnson Controls-Saft joint venture and is Vice President and General Manager Hybrid Systems for Johnson Controls, said the partnership between Ford and Johnson Controls-Saft validates that the United States is positioned to be a leader in the development of hybrid and electric vehicles. "Ford and Johnson Controls are two long-standing U.S. companies, and along with Saft who has extensive lithium-ion manufacturing capability and experience in the U.S., we are committed to re-building our domestic manufacturing base and to the ongoing investment in critical technology for the United States."

Johnson Controls-Saft is presently partnering with Ford, as well as Southern California-Edison (SCE) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), on a 20-vehicle test fleet of PHEVs to demonstrate the capability of PHEVs as part of a complete vehicle, home and grid energy system. Data from this demonstration fleet will be used to support the PHEV production program.

The five-year supply agreement includes delivery of battery packs for committed production in 2012 with a target of five thousand units per year, with the potential to ramp up to meet customer demand.

About Ford

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 230,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information about Ford's products, please visit http://www.ford.com.

About Johnson Controls-Saft

Johnson Controls-Saft is a joint venture that has brought together Johnson Controls -- the world's leading supplier of automotive batteries and a company deeply experienced in integrated automotive systems solutions - with Saft, an advanced energy storage solutions provider with extensive Li-ion battery expertise.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About Saft

Saft (Euronext: Saft) is a world specialist in the design and manufacture of high-tech batteries for industry. Saft batteries are used in high performance applications, such as industrial infrastructure and processes, transportation, space and defence. Saft is the world's leading manufacturer of nickel-cadmium batteries for industrial applications and of primary lithium batteries for a wide range of end markets. The group is also the European leader for specialised advanced technologies for the defence and space industries. With approximately 4,000 employees worldwide, Saft is present in 18 countries. Its 15 manufacturing sites and extensive sales network enable the group to serve its customers worldwide. Saft is listed in the SBF 120 index on the Paris Stock Market.

SOURCE Saft

Source: PR Newswire

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