Chrysler has announced that it will buy batteries from Massachusetts-based A123 Systems for its line of ENVI electric vehicles. The ENVI line is expected to include an electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Patriot, and two concept vehicles revealed in Detroit earlier this year, the Dodge Circuit EV and the plug-in hybrid Chrysler 200C sedan.

A123 Systems produces lithium-ion batteries for cordless power tools such as drills. Seeded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it plans to make car batteries using a proprietary lithium nano-phosphate technology. The company plans to build a factory in Michigan to assemble the batteries. General Motors had previously considered A123 Systems as a battery supplier for the Chevrolet Volt, but instead partnered with South Korean battery maker LG Chem.

A123 Systems is the same company that produced the additional battery for our plug-in Toyota Prius conversion.

—Eric Evarts