Chinese lithium battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) is to supply batteries for Renault’s Kangoo ZE electric vehicle range, BBB has confirmed.
And Renault’s EV “alliance” partner, Nissan, has told BBB it will also use Chinese-made batteries for its first mass-produced Sylphy Zero Emission EVfor China— although it declined to name the supplier.
Japanese business journal, Nikkei Asian Review, had suggested CATL could also be in line to supply Nissan— which would mean Nissan could benefit from Chinese government subsidies designed to encourage the development and use of EVs.
CATL’s batteries are expected to provide a driving range for Nissan’s EVs of 338 kilometres between charging, according to Nikkei.
BBB reported last March that CATL was on the lookout for a site in Europe to manufacture lithium-ion batteries for the EV market.
And last month, China’s government gave the green light to CATL’s planned CNY13.12 billion ($1.98bn) initial public offering to expand its automotive battery business.
