Toshiba has developed a new type of lithium-ion battery in an attempt to reverse its role as a 'accompaniment runner' in the field of power batteries

Toshiba is trying to reverse its role as a 'accompaniment runner' in the field of power batteries.

As a power battery supplier for Suzuki and Mitsubishi, Toshiba’s power battery business has a long way to go in the age of vehicle electrification, both in terms of installed capacity and global influence. Less than Panasonic, in the industry, it is more just to show people as an 'innovator and revolutionary of lithium batteries'.

But now, Toshiba is not reconciled to this, it is using technology as a breakthrough, and with a series of intensive market layout, trying to reverse the 'accompanying runners in the field of power batteries' 'Character.

According to Kyodo News, Toshiba recently revealed that it has developed a new type of lithium-ion battery that can be quickly charged and has a long life. It is reported that when the battery is used in a small electric vehicle (EV), it can travel 320 kilometers in 6 minutes, which is about three times that of the past. In the cycle, the battery can maintain more than 90% of the battery capacity even if it is repeatedly charged and discharged 5000 times. In addition, fast charging can also be achieved in a low temperature environment of minus 10°C.

In terms of industrialization, Toshiba expects to achieve mass production in the first half of the 2020s.

Regarding the technical realization of the battery, Gaogong Lithium has learned that Toshiba’s battery technology is developed on the basis of its previous SCiB system. The lithium ion battery with titanium niobium oxide as the negative electrode material has twice the lithium ion storage capacity of the lithium battery with graphite as the negative electrode material.

Niobium is a kind of rare metal, and it is also the core of achieving large battery capacity. This metal is also used as an additive in automobile steel to improve durability. In order to promote the mass production of next-generation batteries, Toshiba has also signed agreements with Sojitz and CBMM to jointly develop anode materials using niobium-titanium oxide.

CBMM is the world’s largest niobium producer/seller. Sojitz is one of the shareholders of CBMM and the general agent of CBMM in the Japanese market. Toshiba promotes this purpose The point is that, by cooperating with Sojitz and CBMM, we can reduce the cost of niobium procurement, and develop products that can take into account both performance and price, so that they are not simply staying at the technical level.

In fact, 'fast charging' has always been Toshiba's housekeeping skill in the field of lithium batteries.

As early as 2008, it launched SuperChargeionBattery (SCiB), which uses lithium titanate as the negative electrode, which can achieve rapid charge and discharge, with a lifespan of up to 15,000 times , And can be used in an environment of minus 30°C.

In terms of specific supporting facilities, Toshiba has realized supporting applications in the fields of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, driving systems of rail vehicles, and energy storage facilities in substations. Currently, Mitsubishi Motors' i-MiEV and Suzuki's EV both use Toshiba's lithium ion battery.

For further increasing investment in fast-charge batteries in the field of electric vehicles, Toshiba’s thinking is that with the expansion of 'shared cars, And the new titanium niobium oxide anode material and the new generation of SCiB batteries are a disruptive progress, which is expected to have a significant impact on the battery life and performance of electric vehicles, and is also an opportunity for it to 'turn over' in the power battery business.

Technology Ru0026D investment is only the tip of the iceberg. If you follow this Japanese company for a long time, you will find that it has been significantly increasing its layout and investment in this field in recent years. Substantial progress has been made in many areas such as organizational restructuring, capacity planning, and customer cooperation.

In June 2018, Toshiba announced plans to invest nearly 5 billion yen to increase its lithium battery production capacity by 50%, positioning its batteries with independent technology as a key development area. After the completion of capacity expansion, the lithium battery production capacity of its Boqi plant will be increased from 1 million cells per month to 1.5 million cells per month.

In addition to expanding domestic production capacity, Toshiba is also expanding its lithium battery business overseas and entering the international market. In 2017, Toshiba signed an agreement with Suzuki and Electric Pile to announce a joint investment of 20 billion yuan to create a joint venture company to manufacture lithium batteries for electric vehicles in India. The plant is scheduled to be put into operation in 2020.

At the same time, Toshiba also adjusted the structure of the battery business department from a three-level department to an internal independent business department. The group-level strategy for this business The degree of importance is evident from this.

At the end of last year, Toshiba announced that, in order to promote the management structure of the rechargeable battery and building solutions business organization, it will replace the SCiB rechargeable battery on April 1, 2019. The business will be split from Toshiba Infrastructure Systems and Solutions (TISS) and transferred directly to Toshiba. Moreover, it will become an independent business unit within Toshiba.

After the SCiB rechargeable battery business becomes an independent business unit of Toshiba, it will also be responsible for overseeing Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems, Toshiba Lighting Technology and Toshiba Carrier. The three companies are promoting the building energy storage solutions business.

The analysis believes that, in the context of the decline of traditional business, the battery business is being given a greater mission by Toshiba. It is integrating internal resources and focusing on electric vehicle applications. , Coupled with the combination with energy storage applications, to promote the awakening and growth of its lithium battery business.