Samsung SDI develops sports car battery

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- Samsung SDI said Tuesday that it has developed a next-generation sports car battery that can be used in battery-operated vehicles driven at high speeds for up to 400 kilometers.

The lithium-ion battery can power a car at speeds up of to 200 kilometers per
hour after being charged for three hours, said the digital mobile, display and
advanced energy company.

"The battery has proven to exceed the performance of gasoline-driven cars in
terms of speed and distance that can be travelled," a company spokesperson
said. He added that the new battery will be used on a sports car being built by a
U.S. company. The model is expected to be unveiled later in the year.

Samsung SDI has taken firm steps to enter the next-generation energy development
market with a 50-50 venture with global automotive company Bosch. The joint
company that was launched on Sept. 1 has been named SB LiMotive and aims to
produce efficient, commercially viable lithium-ion batteries for sale by 2011.

The company said it will also open two new battery cell factories to churn out
reusable power packs early next year in Cheonan, a city 92 kilometers south of
Seoul.