A123 Systems a winner in U.S. govt competition-WSJ

Aug 5 (Reuters) - Battery maker A123 Systems is one of the winners of the competition for $1.2 billion in federal stimulus funds for companies that make advanced automotive batteries, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The U.S. Department of Energy could not be reached for comment outside regular U.S. business hours.

Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to name the winners of the competition, which received applications from more than 100 companies, at an event in Detroit on Wednesday, the paper said.

The U.S. government has set aside $2 billion under the U.S. economic stimulus package to support advanced battery technology. (Reporting by Santosh Nadgir in Bangalore; editing by Simon Jessop)