Daimler / Chrysler to do Li-Ion "in house"?

[TEG]

DaimlerChrysler to Toyota/GM on batteries: do it yourself! - AutoblogGreen

 

[tonybelding]

This is interesting. . . Over the past couple of decades the big car makers have outsourced all kinds of components, modules, even vehicle assembly in some cases. The only thing they've kept a tight hold on is their core technology of the internal combustion engine. (Honda executives have described their company as a maker of engines and related products, which just happens to include cars.)

If electric power is going to replace the ICE, then batteries are the core technology of the future. From that standpoint Daimler's announcement makes sense. I'm just pretty startled to hear it coming from them. I didn't imagine that their thinking was anywhere near so far advanced on this subject.