Nissan and Sunwoda to jointly study battery development

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Chinese company Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co., Ltd. will begin studying joint development of next-generation vehicle batteries for Nissan’s e-POWER vehicles.

The two companies will also discuss the development of an efficient production system to ensure stable supply capacity for jointly developed batteries. Nissan and Sunwoda aim to conclude a final agreement by the end of this year, based on the specific content and conditions of the study.

Nissan is expanding its global lineup of electric cars and e-POWER models. The company’s e-POWER technology consists of an electric motor that delivers power directly to the wheels, and an onboard gasoline engine that generates electricity for the motor. So far, the technology has only been available in Japan and lately Thailand. Nissan said it will expand the award-winning 100% electric motor-driven e-POWER technology globally into the B- and C-segments. Nissan expects to sell more than 1 million electrified vehicles annually by the end of fiscal year 2023.

Following recent plans to restructure and realign its global alliance with French automaker Renault, Nissan will primarily concentrate on markets in Asia, namely China and Japan, as well as North America. This focus is part of the reasoning behind looking into an alliance with Sunwoda. Nissan emphasises Sunwoda’s established global track record in the development of lithium-ion batteries, mainly used in consumer electronics and automotive batteries. Nissan said it is confident that Sunwoda’s deep-rooted technological expertise will contribute to Nissan’s e-POWER strategy.

Further discussions by the companies will focus on combining Nissan’s expertise in electric vehicles and battery technology with Sunwoda’s next-generation battery development capabilities and production capacity, with an eye to strengthening competitiveness in the Chinese market and globally. The companies are also considering the joint establishment of a secure supply structure geared toward future global business opportunities.

To learn more about e-POWER, click here.