Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp. said Friday that it is working jointly with automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to develop rechargeable battery systems for electric vehicles.

It's the first EV battery deal with a major automaker for Toshiba, which already makes batteries for laptops and cell phones.

Toshiba said the companies have been working together for a year on battery systems containing its "super-charge ion battery" (SCiB) for use in electric cars, that combines safety with a long life and rapid recharging, characteristics, making it suited for application in electric vehicles. The SCiB can recharge up to 90 percent of full capacity in less than five minutes. The system is scheduled to enter series production next year

However, reports said that Mitsubishi Motors has not yet decided whether to procure batteries from Toshiba. Mitsubishi said it had not yet decided whether it will use Toshiba's battery in one of its EVs, but they were working on a battery together.

Toshiba, meanwhile, is also cooperating with Volkswagen to develop automaker's next-generation electric vehicles.

Presently, batteries for Mitsubishi's i-MiEV electric vehicles are being supplied by Lithium Energy Japan, which is a joint venture with Mitsubishi Motors, battery maker GS Yuasa Corp., and trading house Mitsubishi Corp., but is hoping to expand its model lineup in electric vehicles, said spokesman Tetsuji Inoue.