By Li Fangfang and Mitch Moxley (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-14 17:16

"We stand at the front line of the industry in terms of safety," she says.

She says Sonata's cost is "very competitive" compared with traditional lithium-ion laptop batteries, based on technology first developed by Sony in 1991. But she declines to disclose exact figures.

Sonata's drop-in design means it can be used with existing laptops - requiring no design changes to laptops currently on the market.

Lampe-Onnerud has applied for 15 portable power source solutions patents, with six patents still pending.

Late last year, Boston-Power began mass production of Sonata under a contract manufacturing partnership with HYB Battery Co Ltd, one of China's major lithium-ion battery manufacturers based in Shenzhen.

By the end of this year, the Shenzhen factory will reach a production capacity of 1 million Sonata batteries per month, Lampe-Onnerud says.

Last week, the CEO also announced in Beijing an agreement to expand mass production of its Sonata batteries through a partnership with GP Batteries, a member of Hong Kong's Gold Peak Group.

GP Batteries is Asia's No 1 battery manufacturer outside Japan and the top consumer battery provider in China.

"I came to China because I think there's so much momentum," Lampe-Onnerud says.

"I enjoy the culture, I enjoy the speed at which China is growing. I enjoy the opportunities - the growth here is enormous. I appreciate that China has a government that wants to change the energy shortage situation. Therefore, we're here and we're committed to staying here."

As founder of a leader in battery innovation and design, and a pioneer of longer lasting, safer and cost-effective batteries, Lampe-Onnerud believes that the Sonata battery can be used in other portable power devices, including hybrid vehicles.

But for now, the company is focused on laptops.

"I look forward to overcoming the laptop battery challenges first, and over time applying our solutions to other mobile devices," she says.

For now, Lampe-Onnerud aims to focus on encouraging innovation in the lithium-ion battery industry. She says upcoming research will emphasize reducing the battery's weight and thickness

"Although our company is still young, Boston-Power is a veteran in the lithium-ion industry," she says.

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