In the U.S., Ford and General Motors are expected to introduce micro-hybrids in 2012. giant, though none can be named at this time, said Thomas Granville, Axion’s CEO and president of Axion Power Battery Manufacturing.Įuropean automakers like Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini and PSA Peugeot-Citroën have already introduced start-stop technology into their fleets. BMW’s next-generation vehicle improves the earlier model’s fuel economy by 25 percent.Īxion is also working with several other vehicle manufacturers, including one U.S. The auto giant is planning to introduce its start-stop M5 sports sedan later this month at a Shanghai car show, though Axion was not involved in that project. ![]() ![]() Germany’s BMW has already tapped Axion to provide its lead-carbon batteries in micro-hybrid test models and is expected to strengthen the partnership over the next 18 months. At stoplights or in heavy traffic, the engine automatically turns off and restarts as needed while keeping the headlights, air conditioning and radio running. The start-stop systems reduce emissions and improve fuel economy by minimizing the time a car spends idling. The firm makes a patented lead-carbon PbC battery that is well-suited for the charge-intensive nature of the start-stop technology used in micro-hybrids, especially when compared with traditional lead-acid car batteries. The New Castle, Pa.-based subsidiary of Axion Power International has nearly doubled its facility space and added more than a dozen jobs recently to help accommodate the soaring interest from major automakers. The market’s boom has meant big business for a little-known Pennsylvania battery plant. ![]() and Europe are driving up demand for “micro-hybrid” vehicles - conventional cars that boost gas mileage by adding hybrid technologies.
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