Quallion LLC received a $2.2 million grant from the California Energy Commission to improve lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The Sylmar-based company will use the funding to invest in its manufacturing facilities to pursue new application for advanced batteries, sad President Paul Beach. “We have demonstrated the technical capabilities of our lithium ion batteries in medical devices and satellites, and with this funding we can leverage that success toward clean transportation projects,” Beach said in a prepared statement. The project will include assessments of cost, capacity, performance and reliability, along with design, testing and production. The money received by Quallion was part of $20 million the California Energy Commission distributed to six companies engaged in clean transportation projects. Mark R. Madler