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29 Mar 2005 HEADLINE |
Toshiba Develops Fast-Charge Lithium-Ion Battery
Source:
Class: PRESS RELEASE
SYNOPSIS: New battery using nano-material technology can recharge 80% of a battery's energy capacity in only one minute, approximately 60 times faster than the typical lithium-ion batteries in wide use today.
Toshiba Corporation today announced a breakthrough in lithium-ion batteries that makes long recharge times a thing of the past. The company's new battery can recharge 80% of a battery's energy capacity in only one minute, approximately 60 times faster than the typical lithium-ion batteries in wide use today, and combines this fast recharge time with performance-boosting improvements in energy density.
The new battery fuses Toshiba's latest advances in nano-material technology for the electric devices sector with cumulative know-how in manufacturing lithium-ion battery cells. A breakthrough technology applied to the negative electrode uses new nano-particles to prevent organic liquid electrolytes from reducing during battery recharging. The nano-particles quickly absorb and store vast amount of lithium ions, without causing any deterioration in the electrode.
The excellent recharging characteristics of new battery are not its only performance advantages. The battery has a long life cycle, losing only 1% of capacity after 1,000 cycles of discharging and recharging, and can operate at very low temperatures. At minus 40 degrees centigrade, the battery can discharge 80% of its capacity, against 100% in an ambient temperature of 25 degree centigrade).
Toshiba will bring the new rechargeable battery to commercial products in 2006. Initial applications will be in the automotive and industrial sectors, where the slim, small-sized battery will deliver large amounts of energy while requiring only a minute to recharge. For example, the battery's advantages in size, weight and safety highly suit it for a role as an alternative power source for hybrid electric vehicles.
Toshiba expects that the high energy density and excellent recharge performance of the new battery will assure its successful application as a new energy solution in many areas of society.
Major Specifications of New Battery
1) Excellent Recharge Performance
The thin battery recharges to 80% of full capacity in only a minute. Total recharge takes only a few more minutes.
2) High Energy Density
Small and light, the new battery offers a high level of storage efficiency. The prototype battery is only 3.8mm thick, 62mm high and 35mm deep and has a capacity of 600mAh.
3) Long Life Cycle
A prototype of new battery (a laminated lithium ion battery with 600mAh capacity) was discharged and fully recharged 1,000 times at a temperature of 25 degrees centigrade and lost only 1% of capacity during the test.
4) Temperature
The new battery operates well in extremes of temperature. It discharges 80% of its capacity at minus 40 degrees centigrade, against 100% at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees centigrade, and loses only 5% of capacity at temperatures as high as 45 degrees centigrade after 1,000 cycles. These characteristics assure the wide applicability of the battery as a power source for products as diverse as hybrid vehicles and mobile phones.
5) Eco-friendly Battery
The new battery can quickly store energy produced by locomotives and automobiles. This speedy and highly effective recharge characteristic of the battery will support CO2 reduction, as the battery can save and re-use energy that was simply wasted before.
Reader Comments
18 comments so far...
07-Jul-2007
57020
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Two years and I haven't heard another word about the Toshiba fast charging Lithium-Ion battery. Something about bringing the new battery to commercial products in 2006. Have the oil companies gotten to them? Maybe when people demand that our great new technological marvels free us from oppressive greed we will advance the human race and preserve our world for posterity.
Posted by: Hans Kremer
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26-Dec-2006
42127
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Well lets hope some oil company dosnt offer Billions for the patent.. like they did with the GM battery.. they did buy that patent.. just to make sure no one used it! remember its not just about saving the planet its about fighting a corrupt system run by very evil people! So do all you can to screw the oil companies!
Posted by: David jary
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09-Jul-2006
27874
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Its been over a year and thier has been no new news on these batteries. Could it be once again that the old fartish dinosaurs of change in charge of our energy and business industries have once again have attempted to kill the progress of the green revolution, either by stopping the manufacture of slowing the development of this new type of battery to keep us dependent longer on fossil fuels? Think about it, this new battery technology would make it so feesible to make a pure electric vehicle, since the complaints that have always plagued battery technology for EV's of the past were slow charge times, low capacity and range, all of which disappear here. Yet now there is silence, nothing, no new news, no press releases from automotive industries stating that they are using this for current vehicle development. We all have such short attention spans, that they think would forget about this once it disappeared from the lime light, and for the most part we have, only popping our heads up like prairie dogs when something interesting peeks our attention and interest, be yet once it passes our range of attention, we bury our heads again and forget it exists; out of sight out of mind. Don't let this technology die by being complacent, keep demanding and calling the consumer divisions of the automotive industries and bug the hell out of them until you get a straight answer. Send millions of emails, sends thousands of letters, keep doing so until they are so overwelmed that they must give in. I regularly send 100 emails, 20 letters, and make 30 calls a week to these companies demanding they listen to the people who demand the new technology of change. Imagine if, say, a million people did this as regularly as I do. They would be so flooded with demand that they would have no choice but to make this technology a reality. If one person does this, that person is insane, if a million people do it, they are a revolution.
Posted by: Ben Lee
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04-Feb-2006
12640
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How come we don't hear about this beautiful breakthrough in batteries? It would seem that if they really work all the new hybrid/ and all electric car companies would be clamoring for this. What's happining?
Posted by: yohann anderson
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04-Oct-2005
10001
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We have a total EV Solectria and took the conventional lead acid out and need lithium ion
144 volt total in a pack, or 12, 12volt lithium ion batteries. Anyone know where we can get units at cost. Would be willing to advertise and show. This vehicle is interstate capable up to 77mph, a/c, ceramic heat, and re-generative braking. Body style looks like slightly larger than Geo Metro. Sits four comfortably.
Where can I find these. Thanks.
Posted by: Cynthia Fulford
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29-Mar-2005
6878
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Great! Can you get one? How much will it cost? Lithium Ion Batteries are non toxic and have a high energy density. Now we have the ability for fast recharge times, that apparently do not damage the battery (a problem in the past).
Will this batteries be mass produced? If so when????"
Posted by: Kurt Newick
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29-Mar-2005
6881
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When will we have electric cars!?! We need to move toward electric motors and solar charging..."
Posted by: Jonathan Flesher
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29-Mar-2005
6882
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Looks like they are turning the corner on the holy grail of a good battery for EV's. Leave it to the Japanese to do it. What with nanotech solar panels and nanotech batteries, there may be a way out of the looming energy crises yet."
Posted by: Greg Collins
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29-Mar-2005
6883
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Hybrid shmybrid! Electric cars can be practical if all these claims are true. The arguments against electrics were long charging times, poor performance in cold weather, and short lives. All these are gone with this battery. There are no more excuses. We don't need hybrids any more! Sorry Toyota. Sorry Saudi Arabia."
Posted by: Ben Wheeler
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29-Mar-2005
6889
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Gratefully, the consumer electronics industry continues to pour millions into battery research. I suspect that this breakthrough, while clearly amazing, may be difficult to scale up to a level suitable for a battery EV. A hybrid, on the other hand, would be an ideal application, especially if stealth operation could be enhanced through the power and quick recharge characteristics of this technology.
Let us not lose sight of the fact that hybrids have kept electrically-powered vehicles in the limelight. Research that resulted in the second generation Prius is applicable to all battery-powered vehicles. With battery breakthroughs like this one from Toshiba, gas engines in hybrids can diminish in their power delivery role while electric power increases. Practically, this represents the most realistic road to battery EVs.
At a minimum, demonstrated technology is running circles around the vaporware of fuel cells. So, I'll let hybrids have their day today so that battery EVs can have their century in a decade or so. "
Posted by: Jeff Spear
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29-Mar-2005
6892
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Just as a quick response to Jeff Spear's comment on scalability...the folks over there at ACpropulsion have shown that you don't really need to scale a battery in order for it to be effective. Their Tzero lithim pack, from what I understand, is made up of thousands of little batteries arranged in subpacks simply because they couldn't purchase larger batteries. With a 300 mile range and 0-60mph of 4.something, I'd say it's doing all right."
Posted by: J P
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30-Mar-2005
6895
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Interesting development. Maybe the next Prius (the step before EV) will be w/ long ZEV range w/ a Li-ion battery.
However, if the battery can discharge at -40°C, what about regen at -10°C or below? No words on that. Automotive ask for performances for the whole temperature range.
Regards,
Ben"
Posted by: Benoit Soucaze-Guillous
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30-Mar-2005
6896
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Who do you think the brave auto manufacturer they claim will be putting them into hybrid vehicles in 2006 will be? My guess, Toyota or Nissan, as they've already used lithium in their vehicles. Possibly Toyota are considering it for their own plug-in Prius project????"
Posted by: clett erridge
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30-Mar-2005
6901
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Good comments Jeff
First we will have a Plugin with 20 mile range, slowly it will extend to 30,40,60,120,240 finally arriving at 360 as battery tech goes up and costs come down.
That would be a sensible thing.
At present, no one (even Toyota) dares to bring a plugin as it would bring the wrath of Oil industry.
If OPEC says that they cannot pump any further, then that will be the
Day of the Plugin Hybrid
"
Posted by: M R
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31-Mar-2005
6920
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Only a 1% capacity loss after 1000 cycles. Even if it is very expensive this kind of life expectancy could mean an EV that will never need to have its batterys changed. I'm picturing an EV that can go a half million miles with essentially no maintaince. If car companies didn't want to build EV's before because there was no repair part market, what do you think they'll want to do now."
Posted by: Eric Krofchak
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31-Mar-2005
6944
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I wonder what the sucker will sell for , the prius u series lithiom ion bats from valence that make the prius go 150 miles on 1 gallon costs $10,000 to upgrade. i am sure the cost will go down eventually but remember these honeys are as pricey as gold. I will celebrate when the price gets below $5k for a battery pack. maybe the competetion from toshiba will make the prices drop to an affordable level in a year or 2..
Tom"
Posted by: tom sanderson
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16-May-2005
7615
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Excellent, my dream of an all electric snowmobile that can compete with modern two strokes is one step closer (a hyrbid already exists).
The goal: guilt-free use of the poor man's snowcat/helicopter for deep backcountry ski access (and self-evac in an emergency).
Of course I'd also like this tech to be in a truck to get to the trail in the first place :)"
Posted by: UI Vandal
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11-Oct-2005
10141
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Yes Toshiba is a Japanese company but they are using new technology to make this battery from Altair Nanotech company (ALTR) which is from USA. Either way it is greatly needed. Now we need a manufacturer with enough balls to bring the Electric Vehicle back so we can put these battery's to use.
Posted by: Wallace M
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