Intel Might Get Into…Car Batteries?

Former Intel chairman Andrew Grove is suggesting a new business opportunity for the chipmaker: make advanced batteries for electric cars.

Andrew Grove might have retired from chipmaker Intel back in 2005, but he still has some words of advice for current CEO Paul Otellini: consider making advanced batteries for plug-in electric cars.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Grove, who still works for Intel in an advisory capacity, has urged Otellini to consider getting the company into high-end batteries as a way to diversity its business. The automotive industry will likely be looking to technology companies to improve battery technology and reduce production costs on automative batteries as the industry begins to offer more electric vehicles.

Intel has decline to comment publicly on the advice, but an Intel spokesperson has noted that Intel already has investments in battery-related technologies and companies through its capital investment unit.

Batteries are the most costly component of plug-in electric vehicles, with notable battery makers including A123 Sytems, Ener1, and Valence Technologies.

Grove has previously come out in favor of plug-in electric car, with The American magazine publishing a treatise of sorts by Grove on the subject earlier this year.