A123 Systems acknowledges problems with some batteries made for Fisker
(See previous story: Analysis: A123 Systems layoffs highlight challenges for Michigan's budding battery industry)
Michigan battery maker A123 Systems Inc. acknowledged a manufacturing error with up to 50 battery packs it supplied to California electric vehicle startup Fisker Automotive.
A123 Systems said it had identified a glitch with some of the battery systems it manufactured for Fisker Automotive.
Photo courtesy of A123 Systems
The clamps were "misaligned, positioned in such a way that could potentially cause a coolant leak," A123 CEO David Vieau announced on the company's website.
"Over time, it is possible that in certain rare circumstances, this coolant leak could potentially lead to an electrical short circuit," Vieau said. "There have been no related battery performance or safety incidents with cars in the field. However, A123 and Fisker are committed to safety and are taking immediate, proactive steps to prevent any issue from occurring."
A123 said it had developed a fix and expected the glitch to have "minimal financial impact" on the company, whose stock closed at $1.77 on Friday, down from $13.40 during the company's initial public offering in September 2009.
The news comes about a month after the company laid off 125 workers at its Michigan battery plants after Fisker slowed production of its Karma plug-in hybrid electric sedan.
A recent AnnArbor.com review of A123’s third-quarter earnings report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission showed that the company gets 51 percent of its revenue from two customers, including Fisker. Government contracts and subcontracts make up another 12.3 percent of A123’s revenue.
“They’re a big part of our plans and in the top two customers we have for this year and for next year for sure,” Vieau said of Fisker.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
leaguebus
Mon, Dec 26, 2011 : 11:32 p.m.
These subsidies are bad Governmental business. We should save our money and eventually, we will be able to buy Chinese batteries.
tommy_t
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
<a href="http://watchlords.forumotion.net/t14096-each-chevy-volt-costs-taxpayers-250k" rel='nofollow'>http://watchlords.forumotion.net/t14096-each-chevy-volt-costs-taxpayers-250k</a> Where will you find a market for these cars? All is not what it seems.
trespass
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
A123 systems has gotten more than $250 million in taxpayers funding so we have a big investment in their success. We need to be sure that their Chinese engineers are not giving this technology to China. Read more at <a href="http://www.china-threat.com" rel='nofollow'>www.china-threat.com</a>
Billy Bob Schwartz
Mon, Dec 26, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.
There is a lot of well-justified "paranoia" in the world these days.
a2cents
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.
paranoia personified
Kai Petainen
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
50 battery packs. what % is that, of the total number of battery packs that they sell to fisker?