A locally listed company in Malaysia working with Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) is seeking to set up a facility in the next 18 months to manufacture 18650 lithium ion batteries of the type used in Tesla vehicles in terms of size and Energy retention. Tesla has been using these 18650 cells manufactured by Panasonic Models S and X cars
The company is currently seeking suitable production sites in Negeri Sembilan or Selangor and the location is expected to be finalized within 6 months. A feasibility study of the battery prototype to evaluate its Energy retention capability in a tropical climate is to be completed within three months.
According to the CEO of MARii, the batteries can be used not just for powering electric and hybrid cars and buses, but they could also be used in solar Energy storage systems in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak that are off the utility grid
Global hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming a more popular choice among consumers to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to cut operating costs. MARii, reported that the Energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs) sales is expected to rise from the 339,978 units sold last year. The country’s automotive segment parts and components exports hit USD 3 billion and the remanufactured parts exports reached USD128 million, involving 405 companies (vendors) with 64,839 jobs created in 2018.
(Source: Paultan; FMT News; The Malaysian Reserve; New Straits Times)
