This means the full Electric Car is now within easy reach. All it needs is charging points around. Use a specifically designed engine on a generator set, like a small rotary Atkinson cycle, and use a large bank of these batteries and the combustion engine will rarely cut in.
They claim the discharge is the same as supercapacitors. I would rather have supercapacitors with a high energy density storage than a battery. Supercapacitors do not wear out, they are more efficient as there is no state change inefficiencies when charging or discharging.
Other applications? Planes of course. CHP (cogen) in homes? Roof mounted PV cells can charge them up and use the energy later.
Mass production will get the prices down. They could be retrofitted to extising hybrid cars to transform them
------- Toshiba International Corporation, January 27, 2010 - Toshiba proudly announces that it has established US-based sales and technical support for its new product, the Super Charge Ion Battery, SCiBT. This nano-based breakthrough lithium technology is noted for its rapid charging capability of 90% charge in less than 5 minutes, long life of more than 10 years even at rapid charge rates, and excellent safety performance. The SCiBT product line will be supported out of the Toshiba International Corporation headquarters in Houston, Texas and the SCiBT team will focus on business development activities, battery pack design, prototyping, assembly, technical support, and service. The SCiBT battery technology offers numerous performance advantages that make it an ideal solution for many of today's toughest energy storage challenges. . Inherently Safe - Advanced Lithium Chemistry Based on Nano-Technology Prevents Thermal Runaway Even Under Extreme Physical Duress . Fast Charge Rates - Capable of Full Recharge in < 10 Minutes, 90% in < 5 Minutes . Superior life - Minimal Capacity Loss, Even After 6,000 Rapid Charge-Discharge Cycles . Greater Usable Capacity - Up to 85% Usable Capacity Without Compromising Cycle Life . High Output Performance - Equivalent Discharge Rates to those of Ultra-Capacitors . Superb Low-Temperature Performance - Excels at Temperatures as Low as -30°C . Proven Production - Produced on a State-of-the-Art Automated Production Line
SCiBT cells comprising the battery packs will be supplied from Toshiba's state-of-the-art automated production line in the Saku Factory located in Nagano, Japan. Initial market development activities in the US will focus on automotive HEV/PHEV/EV, industrial lift trucks, smart grid/grid storage, medical equipment, wind and solar power, scooters, and UPS market segments. Toshiba currently has two battery pack offerings commercially available, a
12 V, 4.2 Ah pack and a 24 V, 4.2 Ah pack. Both offerings are based on Toshiba's 2.4 V, 4.2 Ah cells and include Toshiba's proprietary battery management system, which ensures optimum performance and safety. Additional packs are under development.