Nissan and NEC to Mass-Produce Li-Ion Batteries

The AP [via The Auto Channel] reports that Nissan is teaming-up with electronics giant NEC to mass produce lithium-ion batteries for the "next-generation of green cars." The Automotive Energy Supply Corporation is charged with making advanced li-ions for electric vehicles, hybrids and fuel cell thingamabobs. The plant should be up and running by 2009, producing 13k batteries annually. Eventually, AESC hopes to crank-out 65k batteries per year. Nissan's Executive VP Carlos Tavares says the Franco-tinged Japanese automaker wants to be a global leader in zero-emission vehicles. (Hey, who doesn't?) The man whose last name reminds us of the song "That's the sound the loneliness makes" insists that Nissan will introduce an electric vehicle in the U.S. and Japan, as well as its own hybrid, in 2010 [yes, there's that date again]. Nissan also plans to produce a zero-emission vehicles in Israel and Denmark by 2011, and market electric vehicles on a global scale by the year 2012. We would like to take this moment to remind Nissan of "Crazy" Henry Ford's maxim "you can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." Thank you.