Delta Eyes EV Li-ion Battery Biz by Investing in DynaPack

Taipei, July 14, 2009 (CENS)--Reportedly eyeing the electric-vehicle (EV) battery business, Delta Electronics, Inc. of Taiwan, the world's largest manufacturer of power supply products, recently participated in local DynaPack Co., Ltd.'s private fund raising.

DynaPack is the second-largest maker of notebook PC lithium-ion battery packs in Taiwan. The firm issued NT$1 billion (US$30.6 at US$1: NT$32.5)-worth of convertible bonds, in which Delta bought the majority of NT$860 million (US$26.5 million).

Industry sources pointed out that Delta's move is not aimed at notebook PC battery business but the high-potential automotive battery field.

Delta claimed that major considerations of its investment in DynaPack include good operation efficiency and strong battery-cell packaging capability of the investment target. Delta lacks such technologies and the investment also opens possible future partnerships.

Industry insiders said that Delta's previous investment in local lead-acid battery maker Taiwan Yuasa Battery Co., Ltd. was not a very successful but helped Delta gain technical capabilities.

With a more direct goal, Delta announced in the third quarter of 2008 that it has successfully self-developed LiFePO4 batteries and would try as hard as possible to commercialize such product in three years by integrating the conglomerate's related technological capability in power supply, motor, and automation.