Monday, April 7, 2014

No. 837: Increasing the distance per charge of an electric vehicle by 30% (April 7, 2014)

Technology:
Daikin Industries and Nippon Kodoshi Corp. developed a technology to increase the heat resistance of lithium-ion battery used for electric vehicles. The new technology not only eliminates the necessity of a device to cool the lithium-ion battery for lower power consumption but also makes the auto body lighter. Accordingly, the distance per charge can be increased by 30-40%. At the same time, it can prevent an accident due to ignition and increase the safety of lithium-ion battery. A lithium-ion battery deteriorates the performance should temperature rise above 45 degrees centigrade. To avoid the deterioration, an electric vehicle carries a cooling device. Because the cooling device runs at its full capacity in summer, the distance per charge decreases by 30%. Without a cooling device, the temperature of a lithium-ion battery rises close to 60 degrees centigrade.

Daikin developed highly heat resistant electrolyte and electrode in alliance with Kansai University. They used fluorine for the substance of electrolyte and confirmed that it worked without any problem at 60 degrees centigrade. They adopted a highly heat resistant adhesive for the electrode to prevent the adhesive from eluting off. They have already shipped trail electrolyte to auto maker and battery makers. The technology is scheduled to be put into practical use in 2020.

Nippon Kodoshi developed increase the heat resistance of electrode and separate in alliance with Advance Industrial Science and Technology. They processed plant fibers elaborately and developed a separator that neither shrinks nor decreases the performance at a high temperature as the existing resin film. At the same time, they adopted a highly heat resistant adhesive. The company has already started to ship samples with a view to putting the technology into practical use in five years.

An electric vehicle jointly developed by 
Daikin and Mercedes-Benz Japan

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