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NEC To Hike Output Capacity Of Lithium Battery Electrodes for AESC
8 November 2009
Nikkei. NEC Corp. and NEC Tokin Corp. plan to increase production of lithium-ion battery electrodes, with all output to be sold to Automotive Energy Supply Corp., a joint venture between Nissan Motor Co. and the NEC group.
This joint venture aims to manufacture enough lithium ion batteries for 100,000 cars in the year ending 31 March 2011.
The firms’ original blueprint called for a 13.7 billion yen [US$152 million] investment by the end of the year through March 31, 2011, with manufacturing to begin at a factory in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, next spring.
By spending an additional 10 billion yen [US$111 million], they now aim to lift the operation’s annual output capacity by 50% to enough lithium ion battery electrodes for 100,000 cars, up from an initial plan for 65,000 cars.
November 8, 2009 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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Posted by: HarveyD | November 08, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Funny how one can already buy LiFePo batteries from China for <$400 at the retail level.
Whatever though, more batteries is better.
Posted by: drivin98 | November 08, 2009 at 01:29 PM
drivin98,
Energy density of LiFePO batteries is lower than most other chemistries. From what I see on the Web only slightly better than NiMH.
The energy density of lithium batteries is currently at a usability threshold. My guess is that LiFePO falls on the wrong side of that threshold to make a compelling offering for a pure EV.
I think they offer ~25% lower energy density, meaning the battery must be 33% heavier to store the same amount of energy. That would make the battery pack for the Tesla go from 450 kg --> 600 kg. To carry that extra weight, the structure and suspension of the car must be reinforced. To keep the blistering performance, the motor and electronics must be more powerful. To keep the range, the battery pack must be enlarged to provide the extra energy needed to haul that extra weight around. The Roadster would easily become 250 kg heavier, more expensive and more power hungry.
The same is true, but to a lesser extent, for more ordinary cars like the i-Miev. The cycle life and low cost make them perfect for a plug-in hybrid imo.
Posted by: Anne | November 09, 2009 at 03:55 AM
We are still very far from the ideal BEV/PHEV battery or on-board e-storage unit.
Energy density has to be multiplied by 3x to 5x (from 100 Wh/Kg to 500 Wh/Kg); cost has to come down to between 1/4 and 1/5 of current level(from $1000/Kwh to $200/ Kwh or $250/Kwh); durability has to be raised to at least 4000 cycles; quick charge has to reach 10 minutes or less.
The first 2 or 3 PHEV/BEV generations will be expensive and have limited performances compared to current ICE machines, evolved progressively during the last 120 years.
If worldwide R & D keeps at the current high level or better, we may come close to the desired battery pack sometime between 2020 and 2025.
It is just a matter of time and resources used. Meanwhile, an affordable Toyota Prius III HEV is not a bad compromise.
Posted by: HarveyD | November 09, 2009 at 09:43 AM
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Nissan-Renault group (and associated JV) claim that they will produce up to 500 000 automotive battery packs a year by end of 2012, if the market is there.
That level of mass production should reduce the unit cost by more than 50% or well under $500/Kwh.
Interesting 3 years ahead for automotive battery packs mass production.