PSA and Mitsubishi May Join Forces to Develop Electric Powertrains

Some interesting post World War II collaboration is continuing to evolve with the news that PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) have agreed to begin a feasibility study on an extended technical collaboration in the field of electric powertrains.

This project, which will run over several months, relates to the development, the manufacture and the use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles.

The companies are taking the view that their co-operation on and possible joint development of electric vehicles would be mutually beneficial to both parties. In layman’s terms it will save them a truck load of money compared to what it would cost them to develop electric powertrains individually.

This new agreement reinforces the bonds between the two manufacturers who, a week ago, laid the first stone of their joint Russian factory, in Kaluga (180 km south west of Moscow)

For PSA Peugeot Citroen, this agreement lies within the scope of its Strategy and Ambition plan covering 2010-2015, which should maintain the PSA Group's leadership in environmentally friendly cars.

Now here is an interesting fact. PSA Peugeot Citroen is the largest global manufacturer of electric vehicles to date with more than 10,000 units sold, meaning PSA Peugeot Citroen will bring considerable expertise in the field of electric powertrains to MMC’s table.

MMC’s ambitions in the electric vehicle arena are considerable. They are aiming to become one of the leading car manufactures of electric vehicles and have prioritized development of the i MiEV*1 new-generation electric vehicle for introduction to the market. MMC will launch the electric vehicle in the Japanese domestic market in 2009 and is considering a possible future introduction to Europe and the U.S.

In addition, MMC has set up Lithium Energy Japan, a Joint Venture founded in partnership with GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation, which is to supply large capacity and high performance lithium ion batteries for the i MiEV. MMC confirm that preparation for mass-production of the batteries is going smoothly.