Johnson Controls will collaborate with Toshiba to develop and manufacture lithium-ion batteries at its Holland, MI, plant.

Johnson Controls Power Solutions and Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation have partnered to deliver low-voltage lithium-ion solutions to meet automaker demands for improved efficiency, lower costs and less complexity. Under the agreement, Johnson Controls will collaborate with Toshiba to develop and manufacture lithium-ion batteries at its Holland, MI, plant and pair them with existing lead-acid battery technology as part of dual-battery systems.

Dual-battery vehicles are expected to be the fastest-growing form of electrification and by 2025 will account for approximately 20 percent of new vehicles built globally, according to IHS, Markit. Adoption rates will be even greater in locations with strict fuel economy standards. Because paired systems require minimal powertrain alterations, automakers can deploy them across multiple vehicle lines with a lower investment than other electrified powertrains. Consumers also benefit, as paired systems achieve up to 8 percent greater fuel efficiency than a conventional systems.

"Low-voltage dual-battery technology is the next step in the evolution of vehicle systems that helps to strike a balance between consumer demands, increasing regulations and automaker economics," said Brian Cooke, group vice president, Products, Power Solutions, Johnson Controls. "Combining Johnson Controls' partnerships and battery system capabilities with Toshiba's lithium-ion cell expertise provides automakers with a compelling, competitive product for vehicles of today and tomorrow."

(Continued on the next page)