Volkswagen, Toshiba To Partner on Electric Car

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Volkswagen AG (VOW.DE) and Toshiba Corp (TOSBF.PK) signed a letter of intent to co-develop an electric-powered version of Volkswagen's subcompact Up! concept car according to a Reuters report. "The objective is a cooperation for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen's planned new small (car) family," Volkswagen reportedly said in a statement.

Volkswagen AG (VOW.DE) and Toshiba Corp (TOSBF.PK) signed a letter of intent to co-develop an electric-powered version of Volkswagen's subcompact Up! concept car according to a Reuters report.

"The objective is a cooperation for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen's planned new small (car) family," Volkswagen reportedly said in a statement.

"Furthermore, Volkswagen and Toshiba are planning the development of battery systems with a high specific energy density for the next generation of electric vehicles," the statement continued.

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No further details were given.

In May 2008, Volkswagen and Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYY.PK) agreed to co-develop lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery systems for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV).

More recently, the German automaker's 2009 Jetta TDI was named Green Car Journal's 2009Green Car of the Year.