MILWAUKEE and SAN DIEGO, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions and Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MXWL) today announced a development collaboration through which Maxwell will produce lithium-ion battery electrodes for testing and evaluation by Johnson Controls-Saft.
The electrodes for Li-Ion battery applications will incorporate Maxwell’s proprietary process successfully demonstrated in ultracapacitor applications. The collaboration will demonstrate optimized performance while reducing energy consumption, solvent recovery and capital investment.
“Our goal is to develop break-through technology on electrode manufacturing to reduce the cost and environmental impact of advanced automotive batteries for hybrid vehicles,” said Mary Ann Wright, who leads the Johnson Controls-Saft joint venture and is vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls’ hybrid business. “Maxwell has developed a unique manufacturing process that we can leverage through our global leadership in the development and manufacture of lithium-ion automotive batteries.”
Through their collaboration, the two companies will evaluate the integration of Maxwell’s proprietary electrode process into the mass production of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles.
“Johnson Controls-Saft is an ideal advanced battery collaborator with which to explore a high-volume application that could create substantial additional value from the patented process Maxwell originally developed to produce carbon powder-based ultracapacitor electrode material,” said Maxwell’s president and chief executive officer David Schramm.
Johnson Controls-Saft has been at the forefront of research and development to create advanced batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles, with state-of-the-art R&D centers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Bordeaux, France; and battery system engineering, testing and integration centers in Milwaukee, Hanover, Germany, and Shanghai, China. In January 2008, the company opened the world’s first lithium-ion automotive battery manufacturing facility in Nersac, France. Johnson Controls-Saft is the world leader in supplying our customers complete batteries, from cells to systems, development, testing, manufacturing and assembly.
Maxwell is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative, cost-effective energy storage and power delivery solutions. Our BOOSTCAP(R) ultracapacitor cells and multi-cell modules provide safe and reliable power solutions for applications in consumer and industrial electronics, transportation and telecommunications. Our CONDIS(R) high-voltage grading and coupling capacitors help to ensure the safety and reliability of electric utility infrastructure and other applications involving transport, distribution and measurement of high-voltage electrical energy. Our radiation-mitigated microelectronic products include power modules, memory modules and single board computers that incorporate powerful commercial silicon for superior performance and high reliability in aerospace applications. For more information, please visit http://www.maxwell.com/.
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 defense. 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 specialized advanced technologies for the defense and space industries. With approximately 3,800 employees worldwide, Saft is present in 18 countries. Its 18 manufacturing sites and extensive sales network enable the group to serve its customers worldwide. For more information, visit Saft at http://www.saftbatteries.com/.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
Source: Johnson Controls-Saft; Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Rebecca Fitzgerald of Johnson Controls, +1-414-524-2945,
Rebecca.k.Fitzgerald@jci.com; or Mike Sund of Maxwell Technologies,
+1-858-503-3233, msund@maxwell.com
Web site: http://www.maxwell.com/
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/
http://www.saftbatteries.com/
