Toyota to Sell Batteries

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This is getting interesting:

Toyota to sell batteries to other automakers - AutoblogGreen (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/01/14/toyota-to-sell-batteries-to-other-automakers/)

Part of Tesla Motors' ongoing business plan involves selling complete lithium ion battery packs to other auto manufacturers. The most recent example of this strategy was just announced at the Detroit Auto Show, with Tesla supplying packs to Daimler for its smart ed

[WarpedOne]

Toyota owns 60 percent of a joint venture with Panasonic to produce lithium ion batteries specifically for use in electric vehicles, and the JV already sells nickel metal hydride packs to some automakers.

All fine and well but what advantages are there with batteries specifically designed for use in electric vehicles as opposed to "general purpose cells"? Chemistry is known, packaging is not an issue, what then? Format? Better use of space i.e. volume density? Problem is mass not volume.

I see this as a knee jerk reaction from top players. They are cought of guards and years behind. Their batteries are many years away. Toyota is still to sell a single plugin hybrid. They only do what they can do. They talk and offer press releases.

New Prius is a laugh. Same with Insight.