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Apple hiring big brains in car battery space
Let's remember that Apple just became the first corporation to be valued at more than a trillion. They have the capital, know-how & will to pull something amazing off in the battery technology space. So my bet, is yea. Apple is the next A123!Earlier this month, battery maker A123 Systems sued Apple for poaching five top engineers. A search of LinkedIn profiles indicates Apple has hired at least another seven A123 employees and at least 18 employees from Tesla since 2012.
The former A123 employees have expertise primarily in battery cell design, materials development and manufacturing engineering, according to the LinkedIn profiles and an analysis of patent applications.
A123, which filed for bankruptcy in 2012 but has since reorganized, supplied batteries for Fisker Automotive's now-discontinued hybrid electric car.
"Looking at the people Apple is hiring from A123 and their backgrounds, it is hard not to assume they're working on an electric car," said Tom Gage, Chief Executive of EV Grid and a longtime expert in batteries and battery technology.
Apple is building its own battery division, according to the A123 lawsuit. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.