Ford Motor Co. has decided to speed up the development of lithium-ion battery systems for a new generation of hybrids and electric vehicles, according to a report by Detroit News Monday. Susan Cischke, Ford group vice president in charge of sustainability, was quoted as saying that the company is strongly positioned to accelerate its electric vehicle strategy this year. Susan said the company is working with battery suppliers and university researchers and it expects to begin building hybrids and electric vehicles next year. Ford expects lithium-ion batteries to be 5 percent more energy efficient than the nickel-metal hydride cells it uses today, and says these batteries will cost about 30 percent less to manufacture.