image from http://www.liotech.ru

Liotech, the joint venture between China's Thunder Sky and Rusnano has opened the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory.

The plant will produce batteries for all kinds of uses including ultra high capacity for electric vehicles.

"This facility is one of the best in the world in terms of equipment and product. We analyzed everything there is in the  world, including what is being manufactured in the United States and  Silicon Valley, and  decided  to  select Chinese company Thunder Sky as our partner," said Rusnano CEO Anatoly Chubais.

The construction of the plant took 18 months. Rusnano provided 7 billion roubles in direct investment and loans to the project, Thundersky 6 billion, along with technology and intellectual property.

The factory has begun production of eco-friendly batteries for consumer electronics.

"It is planned to start batteries supplies for 100 electric buses in Moscow by the end of 2011”,  – says Rosnano managing director Sergey Polikarpov. He also added that Liotech is holding talks on supplying batteries for an electric Lada, that will be used in Moscow taxicab fleet. According to Liotech switching buses and trucks in major cities to electric power could reduce emissions by 44%.