![[Image] Smaller and Lighter Lithium-ion Batteries Energy Source for Hybrid Vehicles, reducing CO2 Emissions](/environment/showcase/solution/industrial/images/img_lithiumion/main.jpg)
Lithium-ion batteries are quickly becoming an efficient energy choice used to power the vehicles of tomorrow. Hitachi is helping to deliver a clean and comfortable global experience by supplying lithium-ion batteries for use in hybrid electric vehicles.
(Released in September 2009)
Measures are being adopted in a variety of different fields to help prevent global warming by reducing CO2 emissions. As a result, the automotive industry has become a focal point when considering impact on the environment.
More importantly, advances in environmental technology, such as the emergence of hybrid electric vehicles in the 1990’s, have brought innovation to an era where vehicles have been traditionally powered by gasoline. The key feature of hybrid technology is surrounded by the augmentation of the engine with an electric motor, ultimately achieving improved fuel economy and significantly reducing the amount of CO2 produced by the burning of fuel.
![[Image] Leading contender for clean motoring!](/environment/showcase/solution/industrial/images/img_lithiumion/01.jpg)
The Lithium-ion battery has attracted attention due to its potential for use in hybrid electric vehicles. Hitachi is a leader in its development. What's more, the market for Lithium-ion batteries is rapidly expanding as an alternative to the nickel-metal hydride batteries, which have been utilized in the hybrid market thus far. In addition to its smaller size and lighter weight, lithium-ion batteries deliver performance that helps to protect the environment with features such as improved charge efficiency without memory effect(*1).
In an environment where motor vehicle requirements including lower exhaust emissions and better fuel economy are prevalent, it is anticipated that the practical use of hybrid, electric, and fuel cell vehicles will continue to increase.
![[Image] Advances in Lithium-ion Battery Technology](/environment/showcase/solution/industrial/images/img_lithiumion/02.jpg)
Currently, lithium-ion batteries are widely used in mobile phones and notebook PCs because they have the durability to be recharged and reused repeatedly. The compactness, lightweight and durability, coupled with its powerful characteristics in these batteries, have created a demand for use as small batteries in mobile devices and the larger batteries for hybrid electric vehicles.
![[Image] Lithium-ion battery and Lithium-ion battery module](/environment/showcase/solution/industrial/images/img_lithiumion/04.jpg)
![[Image] 30% better fuel economy](images/img_lithiumion/03.gif)
The lithium-ion batteries are appealing because they have the highest energy density of any rechargeable batteries and can produce a voltage more than three times(*2) that of nickel-metal hydride battery cell while simultaneously storing large quantities of electricity as well. The batteries also produce higher output (boosting vehicle power), higher efficiency (avoiding wasteful use of electricity), and provides excellent durability, compared with the life of the battery being roughly equivalent to the life of the vehicle.
Additionally, use of lithium-ion batteries reduces the overall weight of the vehicle and also achieves improved fuel economy of 30% better than gasoline-powered vehicles(*3) with a consequent reduction in CO2 emissions helping to prevent global warming.
The lithium-ion batteries supplied by Hitachi are flourishing in a wide range of different applications including cars, buses, commercial vehicles and trains.
![[Image] Left : Nissan Tino Hybrid released in 2000 Previously sold on limited basis in Japan. Right : 2007 Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Star Eco-Hybrid Available in Japan](/environment/showcase/solution/industrial/images/img_lithiumion/05.jpg)
Systems for hybrid electric vehicles are comprised of several critically important components. In addition to the lithium-ion batteries, the system capability also includes electric motor to augment the engine, and a power inverter to drive the motor. Hitachi has created a high level of confidence, trust and global recognition for its in-house production including these system components. In fact, Hitachi has been at the forefront, establishing full-scale production of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles and supplying the product to customers in Japan, North America and other countries around the world.
Vehicles are continuously improving in hopes of contributing towards a cleaner future. Currently, advancements are underway with the development of the new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that can be recharged from an owner’s home power supply.
![[Image] System diagram for hybrid car](images/img_lithiumion/06.gif)
![[Image] 1/9 of Gasoline](images/img_lithiumion/07.gif)
Electric vehicles that have the ability to be recharged from an owner’s main power supply are now available in several global automotive markets. When these vehicles are charged overnight, which is less costly than charging the vehicle during the day in Japan, the expense is about one-ninth of the cost for fueling a gasoline powered vehicle(*4). As progress continues to be made while establishing the necessary infrastructure for electric vehicles, we are advancing into a world where it will be possible to obtain electric recharging with more accessibility.
Hitachi will continue to contribute to the future of the global environment with products that emphasize long life, high output, high energy density, high reliability and low cost.
The Hitachi Group views the Lithium-ion battery for Hybrid Electric Vehicles as one of the ways we can achieve our Environmental Vision 2025, with a goal of helping to reduce CO2 emissions by 100 million tons annually by 2025.
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