Lithium-ion battery maker making major hybrid vehicle breakthrough?

I received an e-mail from A123Systems regarding their new line of Lithium-ion batteries. According to the e-mail, the new batteries will offer as much as 5 times the power, 10 times the life, and significant improvements in safety compared to current lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, A123Systems is currently working with the government to provide batteries for the government's hybrid vehicles program.

Currently, hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander hybrid, and the Ford Escape hybrid use NiMH batteries to power their electric motors. Recently, I wrote that in a few years all hybrids will use Lithium-ion batteries, rather than NiMH batteries. The kinds of innovations that A123Systems and other battery developers make will have a profound effect on the performance of hybrid cars and they demonstrate the barely tapped, emerging potential of hybrid technology.