HIT's Lithium-Ion Capacity ExpandsHitachi Ltd. (HIT), a Tokyo-based global conglomerate, is expected to supply advanced lithium-ion batteries to General Motors (GMGMQ) in 2010 for use in its gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV). The deal with GM will increase Hitachi's production capacity for lithium-ion and expand its business in the automotive-related field. It will also meet rising demand for gas-electric cars.Hitachi expects the global market for HEVs to expand from 690,000 units in 2007 to 1.5 million units in 2010. As a result, Hitachi estimates the demand for HEV lithium-ion batteries to overtake that of the current mainstream nickel metal hydride batteries by 2015. Toyota Motor (TM), which currently uses nickel-metal hydride batteries, will start using lithium-ion batteries for its plug-in hybrid cars for the first time.The company ...