Japan develops a new type of lithium-ion battery that will last more than 500 kilometers?

According to Japanese media reports on December 27, the development of lithium-ion battery technology that can travel 500 kilometers from Tokyo to Osaka on a single charge is becoming increasingly active in Japan and is expected to be put into practical use in the first half of the 1920s. Worldwide, the trend toward pure electric vehicles (EV) is accelerating. If the battery life as a subject is greatly extended, the era of lithium-ion batteries as the protagonist may continue.

It is understood that lithium-ion batteries were commercialized in 1991 and are used in notebook computers and video cameras. It was used in mass-produced pure electric vehicles in 2009. The driving distance when fully charged is about 200 kilometers. It is generally believed that in the early 2010s, it was difficult to reach 500 kilometers with the technology at that time, and it will be replaced by new generation batteries such as all-solid batteries by 2030.

The development of new generation batteries is becoming more and more active around the world, but there are many technical issues. On the other hand, the technological development of lithium-ion batteries has made progress, and the 500-kilometer breakthrough has become increasingly realistic. Researchers predict that lithium-ion batteries can continue to be used for about 10 years. Lithium-ion batteries generate electricity and charge by moving lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes. To increase the capacity of the battery, it is necessary to increase the ions stored in the electrode or reduce the internal resistance to make the passage of electrons easier.

In addition, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan will develop technologies that make it possible to completely use up the power of lithium-ion batteries starting in 2019. In order to prevent fire accidents, etc., batteries are used with a capacity lower than the upper limit. The development of sensors that can accurately detect the remaining power will be supported to increase the usable amount. In the 2019 budget, 250 million yen will be included, and we will strive to achieve practical use by 2023.