EnerDel, Think Lithium-Ion Battery Systems Going Postal in Japan

EnerDel, Think Lithium-Ion Battery Systems Going Postal in Japan

U.S.-based lithium-battery maker EnerDel and former Ford electric drivetrain and electric city car unit Think Global are collaborating on an effort to convert about a quarter of Japan's 22,000 gasoline-fueled postal trucks to battery-electric power.

Japan's postal service is road-testing two electric vehicles in the Tokyo and Kanagawa areas, EnerDel and Think said in a joint statement. The service has stated its intention to convert its entire fleet to electric by 2016, according to Rachel Carroll, spokeswoman for EnerDel parent Ener1.

EnerDel and Think had previously worked together on developing a 26 kilowatt-hour battery system for the Think City vehicle starting in 2007. The same system is being used for the Japan Postal trucks, the companies said.

Now considered an off-the-shelf package by the companies, the electric drive system was delivered to Zero Sports, a Japanese automotive specialty company that is one of several under contract with Japan Postal to do convert its gass trucks to electric.

While Carroll declined to estimate the horsepower, top speed and range generated by the postal prototype's 26 kilowatt-hour battery, which weighs about 600 pounds, the much smaller  Think City EV has a range of 100 miles with a top speed of about 65 miles per hour.

"Our longstanding relationship with EnerDel has culminated in one of the most advanced battery-electric drivetrain systems in the world," said Richard Canny, chief executive officer of Think Global.

With this collaboration, EnerDel has executed at least three agreements to either make lithium-ion batteries or do research on them for clients - government agencies and private companies - seeking to reduce emissions from their vehicle fleets.

Last month, EnerDel was awarded $3.3 million to do research for the U.S. Energy Department related to improving the safety and efficiency of batteries earmarked for hybrid-electric vehicles.

Ener1's first quarter revenue was $8.19 billion, up from $97,000 a year earlier.

The company, which last year announced that it would expand the manufacturing capacity of EnerDel's Indianapolis plant, acquired a controlling stake in South Korea-based Enertech in October - a move designed to allow Ener1 to meet automakers' rapidly growing demand for lithium-ion technology.

Norway-based Think made its first products in 1991, became a Ford Motor Co. subsidiary in 1998 and was spun off by Ford in 2003.

Danny King, Contributor

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.