Chevron once held part of the patent for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries through its subsidiary Cobasys. Chevron sold its share of Cobasys to a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung in 2009.
Stanford R. Ovshinsky invented the NiMH battery and founded Ovonic Battery Company in 1982.
In 1994, General Motors bought the patent for Ovonic's battery.
In 2000, Texaco bought the patent, and then Chevron bought Texaco.
Chevron's subsidiary Cobasys provided NiMH batteries to large automakers.
Chevron forced Toyota to stop making the RAV4 EV and limit sales of some large automotive NiMH batteries.
In 2009, Chevron sold its share of Cobasys to SB LiMotive Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Samsung and Bosch.
Bosch eventually took full control of Cobasys.
"I don't need to understand how it works, I just need to understand how to make it work!" ~ EV Greg