Electric vehicles could be in for a big evolutionary boost thanks to new battery technology.
Toshiba has launched a next generation lithium ion battery which can provide three times the power of previous models combined with an “ultra-rapid” recharge time.
The battery, which uses a new material to double capacity, is also less prone to degradation and internal short circuiting – a common problem during recharging in short time periods or in colder temperatures.
“We are very excited by the potential of the new titanium niobium oxide anode and the next-generation SCiB™,” said Dr. Osamu Hori, director of corporate research and development center at Toshiba Corporation.
“Rather than an incremental improvement, this is a game changing advance that will make a significant difference to the range and performance of electric vehicles. We will continue to improve the battery’s performance and aim to put the next-generation SCiB™ into practical application in fiscal year 2019.”
Rigorous testing of a 50Ah prototype of the new battery has confirmed that it retains the long life cycle, low-temperature operation, safety and rapid recharging characteristics of the current SCiB.
The energy density by volume of battery is twice that of the current SCiB™.
The next-generation SCiB™ maintains over 90% of its initial capacity after being put through 5,000 charge/discharge cycles, and ultra-rapid recharging can be done in cold conditions, with temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, in only ten minutes.
Toshiba will continue to develop higher energy density batteries that extend the range of EVs and support ultra-rapid recharging, and aims to commercialize the next-generation SCiB in fiscal year 2019.
Part of the research work on the next-generation SCiBTM was subsidized by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
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