Global Investment Competition Heating Up (LiB for Vehicles)

[Disclosure: the following data in this post was copied from Nikkei Electronics Asia, Feb. 2010.]

...This change will not only to trigger new investment into manufacturing equipment and facilities; it will also spark new competition to develop technologies for large-capacity Li-ion batteries. Battery and battery materials manufacturers are facing intensifying competition not only from other firms already in the industry, but from a host of new entrants as well.

Fig.1. Global investment competition heating up.

Battery manufacturers are beefing up production capacity in preparation for future demand increases, and just adding up the major companies shows over one trillion yen earmarked already. Diagram by Nikkei Electronics based on material courtesy of Deutsche Bank Securities and other sources.

Panasonic's New Li-Ion Batteries Use Si Anode for 30% Higher Capacity

Panasonic's improvement in cell capacity of 18650 LiB seems remarkable. Cell design for the high energy cells will be very interesting in terms of abusive safety test. Ni-based cathode and increased electrolyte amount will be the main thermal mass. Also, another interesting thing is to what extent the Panasonic's HRL technology can make the cells safe. Safer cell design directly tell the technology level of the battery makers.

Regarding detail information , see the below link.

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/HONSHI/20100223/180545/

[Fig. 1 Rate of Capacity Rise Accelerates with Si-Alloy Anodes] The cell using Si-alloy has a capacity of 4.0Ah, which is about 30% higher than the firm's prior design with a graphite anode (NCR18650A). Capacity has been increasing at about 11% annually until now, but this new development represents an annual increase of 18%. The cathode is Ni-based.
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