Large-scale development of lithium batteries for electric vehicles and electric power storage applications

In Japan there was a dramatic increase in the production of lithium secondary batteries which reached a value of 210 billion yen in 1997. There are signs that this trend is increasing. These lithium batteries are presently used as small portable power sources. For these uses there has been a broadening in the research and development of lithium batteries. At the same time, advances in the research of large type lithium batteries for electric vehicles and dispersed-type electric power storage systems have been conducted on a grand scale by Japanese universities, government research laboratories and private companies. The level of activity in the research and development of lithium batteries in Japan is apparent by the state of related patent applications and number of papers presented at meetings held in Japan. LIBES is at the center of the research and development into large-type lithium batteries in Japan. Hitachi, and Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery, as members of LIBES, are carrying out the research and development of large-type lithium batteries for electric-power storage. In FY1997, the 250 W h cells, made of 10 wt.% silver-graphite anodes and spinel-type manganese oxide cathodes; which were connected together and stacked in a series of eight to make a 2 kW h module, produced desirable results and showed the prospects for good safety. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.