Hitachi develops automotive lithium-ion battery having the world’s highest output*1; sampling set to start in the fall

Tokyo.- Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT / SE:6501,hereinafter Hitachi) today announced that Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd. which develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications, such as hybrid electric vehicles, have developed a lithium-ion battery having the world’s highest power density of 4,500W/kg, 1.7 times the output of the company’s mass-produced, automotive lithium-ion batteries. Sampling of the new battery by domestic and overseas car manufacturers will start in the fall.

To reduce internal resistance, the battery employs a new manganese cathode and an original Hitachi battery structure, in such as thinner electrodes, power collection method and effective configurations to achieve the world’s highest output.

In recent years, lithium-ion batteries have been used for many consumer product applications, including mobile telephones, notebook PCs and digital cameras. For the same energy density, a lithium-ion battery has about half the volume and weight of a nickel-metal hydride battery, and about one-third the volume and weight of a lead acid battery. This makes the lithium-ion battery a small, light, high-energy-density secondary battery that is attracting attention for its applicability to hybrid and electric vehicles.

In 2000, the Hitachi Group used its extensive technological and manufacturing capabilities in fields ranging from materials to battery control systems, to develop and mass-produce the world’s first safe, high-performance, long-operating-life lithium-ion battery for automotive applications.

A second-generation lithium-ion battery with an power density of 2,600 W/kg that currently is being delivered for automotive and railway applications, is the world’s only mass-produced lithium-ion battery for on-board applications. Up to this point, a total of some 600,000 cells have been delivered, mainly to car manufacturers and railway companies.

Moreover, development of a third-generation lithium-ion battery having an even higher power density (3,000 W/kg) has already been completed, and will go into mass-production in 2010, with deliveries scheduled to begin the same year.

The battery set to start sampling this fall has been developed as a fourth-generation lithium-ion battery that is even smaller and lighter yet able to provide the world’s highest output. The high reliability of the new battery, in terms of mass-production and quality, is the culmination of manufacturing technology that Hitachi has built up in the course of its extensive market achievements, and through the feedback from its customers.

Going forward, in addition to this lineup of stand-alone battery cell products, Hitachi will meet customer needs by providing optimal battery system solutions that include control systems.

In line with its long-term “Environmental Vision 2025”*2plan to combat global warming, the Hitachi Group is using the expansion of its systems business, starting with its battery operations, to make a contribution to the future of the global environment, and to strengthen its social innovation business.

The new battery will be on display at the Automotive Engineering Exposition 2009 held at PACIFICO Yokohama from May 20 to May 22.