And you thought yesterday was weird — Exxon & EVs?

In a really surprising move, Exxon Mobile Corp – of Valdez oil spill infamy – is helping develop battery components for future electric vehicles.  They’ve already developed a film for lithium ion batteries that help prevent overheating, and related issues … like, oh, I don’t know, combustion.

Yes, blowing up on the road would be bad. Does that mean Exxon is now good? Environmentally? For “the world’s largest gasoline refinery”, that’s an image that will take getting used to, but thankfully they aren’t taking that role too seriously:

 The company, which has big plastic and chemical operations, isn’t keen on the long-term prospects for biofuels, but it is bullish on the hybrid market. It believes that these gasoline sippers will grab a larger share of new-vehicle sales than the federal government forecasts. “We are interested in good business opportunities, and that is what this is,” says Jim Harris, senior vice president of Exxon’s chemical company.

I’m sure the good PR they’re getting from the endeavor isn’t hurting, either.  ;)

According to the  Wall Street Journal, Exxon’s products are already used in over 30% of lithium ions on the market today, and they’re pouring a heck of a lot of effort into expanding the technology. It looks like they are set to blaze a trail … just makes me wonder where they’re really heading.