Murata to Enter Lithium-Ion Battery Business

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Murata Manufacturing Co. of Tokyo will begin operations in lithium-ion batteries. The company plans to distribute samples by March 2007 and have its first batteries on the market in the fall of 2008. It will initially offer Li-ion batteries for power tools and motor-assisted bicycles but aims to also supply batteries for hybrid vehicles.

Murata is a leading maker of ceramic capacitors and plans to leverage its experience with lithium manganate materials to develop high-performance cathodes for Li-ions. Using its fine powder technologies, it believes it can design batteries that deliver a high instantaneous force.

Murata has established a partnership with battery developer Enax Inc. and electronic materials developer Daiken Chemical Co., two companies which have jointly developed a Li-ion battery for a streetcar.