Under the sea and in space, GS Yuasa batteries provide the power

Japanese maker focuses on high performance in extreme environments

The International Space Station orbits the Earth 16 times every 24 hours. While on the dark side of the planet, it is powered by electricity stored in batteries collected from solar panels. (Courtesy of NASA) © AP

SHUNTARO FUKUTOMI and TEN UMEKUNI, Nikkei staff writers

January 3, 2021 15:59 JST

KYOTO -- Battery makers worldwide are fighting for a piece of the pie in the lucrative electric vehicle market, spending huge sums on factories.

But GS Yuasa, a Japanese battery manufacturer that goes back more than a century, is going its own way. The Kyoto-based company develops power cells that can withstand extreme environments, from under the ocean to outer space.