Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

NZ company plans to make hybrids go the distance

Updated at 7:38 am on 9 May 2012

Christchurch-based innovators are developing a new-type of technology to be used in lead acid batteries designed for hybrid vehicles.

ArcActive's chief executive Stuart McKenzie says conventional lead-acid batteries can't cope with the start-stop nature of hybrid cars and only last a matter of weeks.

Mr McKenzie says many other firms hoping to tap into the fast-growing battery market but ArcActive's technology is very low cost, so he hopes it wins out over other new technologies.

ArcActive has so far raised about $3 million from New Zealand investors. Canterbury University remains one of its significant shareholders.

It's also received about $1.5 million in tazpayer funding.

ArcActive's technology recently won the award for excellence in the field of environmental technology research at the CleanEquity conference in Monaco.

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