Monday, March 26, 2012

Fisker Karma involved in new $55m battery replacement program from A123

Fisker Karma involved in new $55m battery replacement program from A123:
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The Fisker Karma was recalled late last year because of improper alignment of the batteries' hose clamps, but that was quickly resolved. Today, A123 Systems - the company that makes the Karma pack - announced a replacement program for "battery modules and packs that may contain defective prismatic cells produced at A123's Livonia, Mich. manufacturing facility." The $55 milllion program will kick off with shipments this week and does not affect any cells, prismatic or cylindrical, made at A123 facilities outside of Livonia.

A123's CEO, David Vieau, said in a statement that, "We have isolated the root cause of the defective cells and we are confident that we have pinpointed the source of the defect and corrected it. As a result of engineering analysis and testing, we believe this is not a safety issue, and we have determined the root cause and have taken corrective actions."

A123 has over 20 deals to supply lithium-ion batteries in vehicles as different as BMW hybrids and Via Trucks, the Chevy Spark EV and Tata's hybrid buses. Today's announcement did not mention any specific vehicle by name, but Green Car Reports reports that the Karma that recently died while it was being tested by Consumer Reports was indeed affected by bad cells from Livonia. A123 says that the defective cells do not pose a safety risk and that the cost of the replacement program will be spread out over the next several quarters.
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Fisker Karma involved in new $55m battery replacement program from A123 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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