Toshiba To Develop EV Batteries With Fiat, Scania; New 60 Ah Cell
30 September 2010
Nikkei. Toshiba Corp. will jointly develop lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles with Fiat SpA and also with Scania AB, majority-owned by Volkswagen AG. Toshiba is currently co-developing batteries and other components with Volkswagen (earlier post).
Earlier this week, Toshiba celebrated the opening of its new plant in Kashiwazaki that will manufacture its SCiB Li-ion batteries. (Earlier post.) Initial production capacity is for 50 million cells per month; during fiscal year 2011, production capacity will increase to more than 100 million cells monthly.
60 Ah cell. Toshiba also announced that it has developed a 60 Ah SCiB cell targeted for large-scale stationary energy storage systems (e.g., for solar) and for electric vehicles. The cell is to begin production this year.
The newly developed cell features volumetric energy density of about 230 - 270 Wh/L.
Keep driving down the costs.
Posted by: kelly | 01 October 2010 at 07:02 AM
At 50M/month these cells will drive cost down to the benefit of the entire industry. According to earlier posts the actual usable energy on these SCiB cells is about 52Wh/kg. The A123 cell delivers about 55Wh/kg. There is clear progress here.
AND we passed through a corporate parking lot this morning to find brand new 110V wired outlets in front of 10-20 parking spaces. Looks like the infrastructure is marching ahead even of EV sales! Excellent.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 01 October 2010 at 09:45 AM
I would love to see companies put in charging stations for commuters. GE has a new ad that shows their charging stations all over the country. I doubt that will happen but commuters DO put on a lot of miles and use a LOT of fuel.
Posted by: SJC | 01 October 2010 at 12:00 PM
GE stands to make a (nother) fortune on this business. Too bad they have missed the CHP boat. A GE CCHP Residential Power Unit in millions of homes - would be a whole new business.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 01 October 2010 at 07:13 PM
I personally think CHP would be a better business for them. But look at where GE makes its money, mostly on turbines and alternators for power plants.
Posted by: SJC | 01 October 2010 at 10:38 PM
Interesting that AltairNano was just sold to the Chinese (51%). The Toshiba 60 Ah cell looks like big competition to the Altair 50Ah cell. Probably more energy dense and better quality to boot...
Posted by: Opbrid | 04 October 2010 at 10:11 AM
I know they are a little shy about giving out energy density as they are a little behind in that area. But they do have a great SOC to help make up for it and I wanted to know if they had improved it with this new announcement.
Oh well, it has to come out sooner or later.
Posted by: DaveD | 04 October 2010 at 11:57 AM