Toshiba Company, along with Sojitz Company of Japan and Brazil’s CBMM, the world’s main producer of niobium, unveiled in Brazil a prototype electrical bus with Toshiba’s next-generation SCiB batteries.
The brand new SCiB Nb cells, that are outfitted with niobium titanium oxide (NTO) within the anode, are promised to supply considerably greater vitality density than the prevailing SCiB cells with lithium titanium oxide (LTO) anode.
Lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are available in a wide range of chemistries, together with cathode and anode. The Toshiba SCiB Nb has niobium titanium oxide (NTO) within the anode, which is essential to reaching ultra-fast charging and excessive longevity.
Toshiba’s SCiB batteries’ most important benefits are their ultra-fast charging functionality (in simply 10 minutes), excessive longevity, and skill to work in a variety of temperatures. Nevertheless, the vitality density of those low-voltage lithium-ion cells (2.3-volt nominal) was fairly weak, at as much as over 200 Wh/l (a number of instances decrease than in lots of electrical automobiles).
The brand new SCiB Nb cells keep SCiB’s robust sides whereas rising the vitality density by some 50% to 350 Wh/l (307 Wh/l together with tab and sealing space). That is nonetheless not sufficient to compete with the high-energy-dense lithium-ion chemistries in all-electric automobiles, however will probably be a step ahead for electrical buses, which frequently use SCiB batteries.
Toshiba SCiB Nb: lithium-ion battery cell with niobium titanium oxide (NTO) within the anode
Previously, Toshiba’s cells had been examined in electrical automobiles just like the Mitsubishi i-MIEV and Honda Match EV. Nonetheless, the buses and industrial autos seem like a significantly better software. That is as a result of the cells can function in temperatures from -22 to 140°F to (from -30 to +60℃), final 10,000 cycles with over 80% unique capability, and recharge in simply 10 minutes as much as 80%.
That is why the three corporations examined the batteries in a prototype electrical bus developed by Volkswagen Truck & Bus in Brazil. The car will likely be demonstrated at CBMM’s industrial plant in Araxá, Brazil.
The market launch of the SCiB Nb battery cells is anticipated in Spring 2025. It is troublesome to say how good this new household of cells can turn out to be. Nonetheless, at the very least theoretically, the brand new anode materials ought to supply roughly 3 times greater theoretical quantity capability than the older LTO kind, Toshiba explains.
Toshiba SCiB Nb 50 Ah cell specs:
- niobium titanium oxide (NTO) within the anode
- Rated capability: 50 Ah
- Nominal voltage: 2.3 V
- Output energy: 1000 W (SOC 50%, 10s, 25 ℃)
(This worth is calculated from the interior resistance.) - Enter energy: 2000 W (SOC 50%, 10s, 25 ℃)
(This worth is calculated from the interior resistance.) - Volumetric vitality density: 350 Wh/L
(307 Wh/L together with tab and sealing space) - Weight vitality density: 130 Wh/kg
- Dimensions: 98 x 280 x 12 mm
(102 x 310 x 12 mm together with tab and sealing space) - Weight: Approx. 860 g
- Speedy cost efficiency 5C cost (10min., SOC 80%)
- Working temperature -30 ～ +60 ℃
- Over 80% restoration capability after 10,000 cycles
