Honda Motors Pairs Up With GM For Next Gen Battery Development

When it comes to hybrid and electric vehicle technology, neither GM nor Honda have been the posterchild - and yet they still produce and sell numerous hybrid models that are quietly successful in numerous markets. They may not be as outright popular as say Toyota or Tesla, but they definitely have some attractive electrically-assisted products. 

But to go further, both companies have decided to pair up to develop next-generation technology for batteries in order to accelerate their individual plans for electric cars. New advanced chemistry battery components, including the cell and module, will allow for higher energy density, smaller packaging, and faster charging capabilities. 

The agreement states that Honda will be doing the battery module sourcing while GM will be providing the battery sytem. With the combined scale of production of the two companies, it should help to greatly reduce the unit cost of the items. For now the end hybrid and electric products will mostly be aimed at the North American market.

This isn't the first partnership between the two companies, as Honda and GM already have an agreement to produce an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system by 2020. For now, the integrated development teams are working on making the technology more affordable in terms of both the fuel cell and the hydrogen storage system.