US-based rechargeable batteries manufacturer PowerGenix has obtained approval of the China National Laboratory's Tianjin Automotive Test Center for using its Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) batteries in micro-hybrid vehicles.
The approval follows tests conducted on the batteries to validate their potential performance improvements, corporate standards and requirements for micro-hybrid vehicles.
The batteries were tested under a range of temperatures, abusive electrical and environmental conditions, while the results showed that the NiZn batteries would offer over six years of service life.
PowerGenix Business Development director Salil Soman said, "This certification positions PowerGenix to tap into the domestic market for micro-hybrids in China, bringing us closer to our goal of eventually replacing existing lead acid batteries with high-power, low-cost NiZn batteries in stop-start vehicles worldwide."
According to the local automakers, the certification would enable the battery manufacturer to grow in the micro-hybrid vehicle market in China.
Recently, the Chinese government has implemented fuel economy standards that require passenger cars to reach 34mpg by 2015, and 47mpg by 2020 that has attracted the automakers to move towards micro-hybrid vehicles to improve fuel economy.
Micro-hybrid vehicles are the gasoline or diesel-powered cars equipped with automatic battery-powered stop-start systems.
