MUNICH, Germany — Automotive tier one Continental AG has launched volume production of automotive Lithium Ion batteries. The batteries are a critical component for automotive hybrid and electric drives.

The company which claims that its volume production is a world's first has developed a Lithium Ion battery that features an electric power of up to 19 kilowatts out of a volume of 13 liters.

In contrast to today's conventional batteries, the much-discussed Lithium Ion battery requires extensive electronic content. The complexity of the Continental product allows a first conclusion how the introduction of such power sources will increase the electronics content of a vehicle equipped with it.

An integrated electronic control circuit monitors the battery's overall health, temperature and energy content against age. In case of excess temperature, a safety interlock switches the battery off. A so called Cell Supervision Circuit (CSC) monitors the status of the single cells and controls their interplay. In order to make sure all cells are loaded equally, the CSC adjusts their charge condition.

All these measures are necessary to guarantee the lifespan demanded by automotive OEMs, explained Joerg Grotenhorst, Head of Continental's Hybrid Electric Vehicles business unit. This lifespan currently amounts to ten years or a range of 160.000 to 240.000 kilometers.

The first serial car to be equipped with the novel power source will be the Mercedes S400 BlueHYBRID which will hit the market in mid-2009, the company said.

Continental has invested €3.3 million (about $4.85 million) into the production site in Nuremberg, Germany. The capacity is 15.000 units per year.