Technology:
Hitachi developed a technology of
lithium-ion battery that allows an EV to travel about 400 km per charge. The
new lithium-ion battery has two times higher capacity than the existing
lithium-ion battery and increases the travel distance per charge of an EV by
about 40%. Nissan’s Leaf can travel 280 km per charge that is currently the
longest travel distance per charge. Hitachi aims to achieve energy density of
320 watts per kg that is about two times higher than the current level.
Nissan's Leaf
It can travel 280 km per charge
It can travel 280 km per charge
The newly developed battery uses an
anode composed mainly of nickel that is two times as thicker than the existing
anode. The cathode is composed mainly of silicone instead of carbon-based
materials. Hitachi’s research team covered the anode with an oxidized material and
added a fluorinated additive to the electrolyte to reduce the generation of membranes.
It successfully kept the capacity of the lithium-ion battery at 90% of the initial
level even after repeating charge and discharge for more than 100 times. Furthermore,
it estimates that the cost of the new lithium-ion battery will not increase
greatly.
New Energy and IndustrialTechnology Development Organization (NEDO) that supports the development activities estimates that the new lithium-ion battery will be put into practical used in 2020. Because the performance of a lithium-ion battery is approaching the limit, NEDO is currently developing a totally new type battery to realize a longer travel distance per charge with a view to translating it into practical applications in 2030.
