Cobasys LLC is an American automotive technology corporation. It supplies nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, battery control systems, and packaged solutions for automotive applications, uninterruptible power supplies, telecommunications applications, and distributed power generation.Markets Served Cobasys. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. For 8 years ending in 2009, Cobasys was a 50-50 joint venture between California-based Chevron Corporation and Michigan-based Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (also called ECD Ovonics, ECD, or Ovonics)Cobabsys: Investors (Corporate website). Cobasys. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.Roberson, J. Supplier Cobasys exploring more hybrid batteries. Detroit Free Press, 2007-03-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. The intermediary hierarchy of ownership was that Cobasys LLC was owned by Chevron's subsidiary Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, and ECD Ovonics' subsidiary Ovonic Battery Company.Ovonic Materials Division — NiMH Battery JV Overview ECD Ovonics. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Cobasys spent $180 million in funding from Chevron Technology Ventures, and the two owners were unable to agree on further funding of the company. After arbitration between the owners had stalled, a buyer was found.
On July 14, 2009, the sale of Cobasys to SB LiMotive Co. Ltd., an electric vehicle battery joint venture between Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. and Robert Bosch GmbH, was announced. The joint venture ended in 2012, with Bosch taking full control of Cobasys.
Battelle-Geneva's pioneering work on NiMH, 1967 The pioneering work on NiMH batteries – essentially based on sintered Ti2Ni+TiNi+x alloys for the negative electrode and NiOOH-electrodes for the positives – was performed at the Battelle Geneva Research Center starting after its invention in 1967: The development work was sponsored over nearly two decades by Daimler-Benz Comp./Stuttgart and by Volkswagen AG. within the framework of Deutsche Automobilgesellschaft. The batteries showed high energy and power densities up to 50 Wh/kg, 1000 W/kg and a reasonable cycle life of 500 cycles. - Patent applications were filed in European countries (priority: Switzerland), USA and Japan and the patents transferred to Daimler-Benz Comp./Stuttgart. - Ref: Elektrode zur Speicherung und Aktivierung von Wasserstoff", K.D. Beccu, Battelle-Geneva, CH Priority Application No. 6333/67-Bb3/CH/2 - (2.05.1967), Patent: DE 2317505 C2 (18.10.73). Negative electrode of Ti-Ni alloy hydride phases, US patent US 3,669,745 (06/13,1972), inventor: K.D. Beccu, Ph.D., Battelle-Geneva R&D Center. See also NiMH batteries
The "invented NiMH variation" of Mr. Ovshinsky consisted in special alloys with disordered alloy structure and specific multicomponent alloy compositions. This variation made possible to increase the battery performance, i.e. the energy density, the cycle life and other characteristics.
History ECD Ovonics, 1960 ECD Ovonics, half owner of Cobasys, was founded in 1960 by Stanford R. Ovshinsky,ECD Ovonics History ECD Ovonics. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. a scientist and inventor, with his wife and collaborator Iris M. Ovshinsky.ENER: Profile for Energy Conversion Devices. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. 2006 Proxy Statement . Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. 2006-10-16. Mr. Ovshinsky invented a variation on the NiMH battery, and ECD Ovonics holds crucial patents on some types of NiMH battery technology, licensing them to all major NiMH battery producers. Among its many activities, it produces consumer-oriented NiMH batteries, while Cobasys focuses on higher-energy industrial applications.
Ovonic Battery Company, 1982 Ovonic Battery Company (OBC) was formed in 1982 as a joint venture between ECD Ovonics and Detroit, Michigan-based American Natural Resources Company (ANR) to capitalize on the rechargeable NiMH batteries which Mr. Ovshinsky had invented.Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.: Information from Answers.com. Answers.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-06. ANR had invested $23 million before backing out of the venture in 1995, at which point ECD Ovonics purchased ANR for $8 million in stock and notes, leaving OBC as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECD Ovonics.
In the early 1980s OBC produced Ovonic NiMH batteries for the consumer market. Until that time, Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries dominated the consumer rechargeable battery market, but NiMH batteries were safer, and stored more energy in an equivalent size. It also began work with Hyundai Motor Company and an unnamed Japanese automaker on batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). In 1992, OCB was awarded a contract by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), a consortium of US automakers, to develop EV batteries, and in 1993, their first EV NiMH battery pack was used in the Chrysler TE van, which previously used Li-alloy/FeS batteries.Chilenskas, A. A., and G. Barlow. Li/FeS battery design for an electric van. (Abstract Only). Society of Automotive Engineers international congress and exposition; 27 Feb - 3 Mar 1989; Detroit, MI (USA); DOE Project; Technical Paper 890785. 1989. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
GM Ovonic Battery, 1994 In 1994, Ovonic Battery Company formed a joint venture with General Motors (GM), called GM Ovonic Battery, to manufacture NiMH batteries for electric vehicles.Texaco and ECD Restructure NiMH Battery Joint Venture - Texaco Ovonic, LLC (Press release). Cobabsys, 2000-10-12. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. GM was given a 60% share of the venture, and provided operating capital, manufacturing capability, and management personnel, while OBC was given a 40% share, and provided patents, licenses, intellectual property, and engineering personnel.Energy Conversion Devices Inc, 10-Q, For 3/31/97 (SEC Filing). SEC Info, 1997-05-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Robert Stempel, who in 1992 concluded a 37-year career at GM, finishing as chairman and CEO, joined ECD Ovonics as an advisor in 1993, and has served as ECD Ovonics' chairman since 1995.
This period was during the development of hybrid and electric vehicles by several automotive manufacturersHonda EV Plus: The Dream of an Electric Vehicle(1988). Honda. Retrieved on 2007-08-07. trying to comply with California's Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program, which required 2% of new vehicles sold or leased in the state to be ZEVs by the 1998 model year, and 10% by the 2003 model year.Status Report on the California Air Resource Board's Zero Emission Vehicle Program Air Resource Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, 2007-04-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-07. NiMH batteries were used in small production runs of EVs from Toyota, Honda, DaimlerChrysler, and Ford in 1997, and GM in 1999.Anderman, Menahem, Fritz R. Kalhammer, Donald MacArthur, The Year 2000 Battery Technology Advisory Panel. [o3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/2000review/btapreport.doc Advanced Batteries for Electric Vehicles: An Assessment of Performance, Cost, and Availability (Draft) June 22, 2000] State of California Air Resources Board, 2000-06-22. Retrieved on 2007-08-07. In 1996, California pushed back its ZEV compliance requirement from 1998 to 2003, and required the sale of just 3,750 ZEVs between 1998 and 2001.Zero Emission Vehicle Study, January 2000 Bureau of Air Quality, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, January, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.Fact Sheet: 2003 Zero Emission Vehicle Program Changes State of California Air Resources Board, 2004-03-18. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
Texaco Ovonic Battery Systems, and Cobasys, 2000 In October 2000, Texaco Inc. announced it will buy GM's 60% share in GM Ovonics Battery Systems, adding to their existing 20% share in the company,Texaco To Acquire General Motor's Share of GM Ovonic Battery Joint Venture: Deal Reflects Technology's Potential For Broad Energy Applications . (Press release). Cobabsys, 2000-10-10. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. and restructure the joint venture as a 50-50 partnership with ECD Ovonics, renamed Texaco Ovonic Battery Systems LLC.Texaco and ECD Restructure NiMH Battery Joint Venture - Texaco Ovonic, LLC (Press release). Cobabsys, 2000-10-12. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.Texaco Ovonic Battery Systems to Build New Plant in Ohio (Press release). Chevron, 2002-10-29. Less than a week later, Texaco and Chevron Corporation announced a merger plan,Chevron and Texaco Agree to $100 Billion Merger Creating Top-tier Integrated Energy Company Texaco Investor Relations Archive, 2000-10-16. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. which was completed a year later as they became ChevronTexaco Corporation.ChevronTexaco Corporation Announce Completion of Merger . Texaco Investor Relations Archive, 2001-10-09. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
In 2004 this joint venture was renamed Cobasys LLC.We have changed our name to COBASYS . (Press release). Cobabsys, 2004-03-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
In addition to holding a 50% share of Cobasys, Chevron holds a 19.99% interest in ECD Ovonics.ECD Ovonics Definitive Proxy Statement of January 15, 2003 Chevron maintains veto power over any sale or licensing of Cobasys' NiMH technology.ECD Ovonics Amended General Statement of Beneficial Ownership of December 2, 2004 In addition, Chevron maintains the right to seize all of Cobasys' intellectual property rights in the event that ECD Ovonics does not fulfill its contractual obligations. On September 10, 2007, Chevron filed a legal claim that ECD Ovonics has not fulfilled its obligations. ECD Ovonics disputes this claim.ECD Ovonics 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ending September 30, 2007
Two other 50/50 joint ventures between Texaco and EVD Ovonics were created shortly before and after Texaco's acquisition of GM's shares in what became Cobasys. One focused on regenerative fuel cell technology, the other on metal hydride hydrogen technology.
Texaco Ovonic Fuel Cell Company, LLC In September 2000, Texaco Ovonic Fuel Cell Company, LLC was formed as a 50/50 joint venture between ECD Ovonics and Texaco Energy Systems, Inc. to develop and market Ovonic regenerative fuel cell technology.Texaco and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. Form Fuel Cell Joint Venture (Press release). Texaco Investor Relations Archive, 2000-09-21. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. It was later renamed ChevronTexaco Ovonic Fuel Cell Company.Energy Conversion Devices Inc, DEF 14A, For 1/18/02, EX-99 (SEC Filing). SECInfo.com, 2002-01-18. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. In June 2003, ECD acquired Texaco Energy Systems' share for $1.00, effective December 31, 2002, and 100% ownership was assumed by ECD. The name was changed to Ovonic Fuel Cell Company LLC.The (De-)Construction Site: M&A Activity Power Currents, Vol. 1, Issues 6-8, June–August 2003. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
Texaco Ovonic Hydrogen Systems, LLC In October 2000, Texaco Ovonic Hydrogen Systems, LLC was formed as a 50/50 joint venture between ECD Ovonics and Texaco Energy Systems, Inc. to develop and market ECD's metal hydride hydrogen technology.Texaco and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Form Hydrogen Storage Joint Venture (Press release). Ovonic Hydrogen Solutions, 2000-10-31. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. It was later renamed ChevronTexaco Ovonic Hydrogen Systems. In December 2004, ChevronTexaco's share in the venture was traded to ECD Ovonic in a deal that granted Cobasys an expansion of their NiMH battery technology licenses given by ECD Ovonics. ECD Announces Expansion of NiMH Battery License to Cobasys and Restructuring of Relationship with ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures (Press release). ECD Ovonics, 2004-12-03. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. The now wholly owned subsidiary of ECD Ovonics was renamed Ovonic Hydrogen Systems LLC.Our Company: Welcome to Ovonic Hydrogen Systems . (Corporate website). Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
Patent dispute with Panasonic EV Energy Panasonic EV Energy (PEVE), a joint venture between Matsushita and Toyota begun in 1996, pioneered several advances in large-format NiMH batteries suitable for electric vehicles.