Toshiba: New rechargeable 20-Ah-HP SCiB(TM) lithium-ion battery cell

Toshiba has expanded its SCiB(TM) product offering with the introduction of a new rechargeable 20-Ah-HP lithium-ion battery cell, which is designed to provide both high energy and high power. The market demands batteries that exhibit both high energy and high power characteristics, which has so far been achievable only with compromises for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. In an electric vehicle, for example, a battery with high energy density enables a greater range on a single charge, but it reduces power input and output and extends charging times. Toshiba utilized its expertise in current high-energy and high-power products to develop a new cell which successfully combines the advantages of both technologies.

Specifically designed for high input and output power

According to Toshiba, this cell is particularly suitable for demanding applications where high input and output power is required, as well as for situations where the battery cells must avoid heating during continuous operation, such as in the fast charging of commercial vehicles, regenerative power supply systems for rail vehicles, and industrial equipment. The cell has the same size as Toshiba’s current 20-Ah product, allowing existing customers to easily upgrade to the improved input and output power in the same module. The cell is now available worldwide.

Important: Maximizing heat avoidance

Compared to Toshiba's current 20-Ah cell, the new 20-Ah-HP cell delivers 1.7 times higher input power and 1.6 times higher output power, achieved through approximately 40 percent reduction in the cell's resistance. This improvement efficiently suppresses heat generation at high currents, facilitating the development of a simpler cooling system. Depending on the customer's system, for example, water cooling can be replaced by air cooling and air cooling by natural cooling. The lower resistance also reduces the overvoltage, enabling the cell to operate in a broader range of state of charge (SOC).

Always a topic: Lifespan

According to Toshiba, the new 20-Ah-HP cell achieves a longer lifespan than the current 20-Ah cell by reducing heat generation during continuous charging and discharging due to its lower internal resistance. 

 

Good Idea: Compatibility in Dimensions

The new 20-Ah-HP cell delivers improved input and output performance while maintaining the same size as the current 20-Ah cell, allowing existing customers to easily upgrade to the enhanced performance with the same module. Toshiba expects the new cell to be used in automobiles, industrial equipment, and battery storage systems. Some examples include drive and emergency power supply for railways, regenerative power supply for port cranes, electric ferries, hybrid buses, trucks, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in HEVs (PHEVs), as an alternative to lead-acid batteries and battery storage systems.


Product Specifications

Product Name: 20Ah-HP Cell
Nominal Capacity: 20 Ah
Nominal Voltage: 2.3 V
Input Power: 1900 W*（SOC 50%, 10 s, 25℃）
Output Power: 1900 W*（SOC 50%, 10 s, 25℃）
Energy Density (Volume): 176 Wh/l
Energy Density (Mass): 84 Wh/kg
Dimensions: W×D×H 116×22×106 mm
Weight: Approximately 545 g

*Calculated value with internal resistance
 

What Does That Mean?

The fact that cell development still has a lot of potential is demonstrated by Toshiba's latest 20-Ah-HP cell, which is said to be massively superior to its predecessors in every aspect. Even if future advancements may not be as significant, there is still fundamentally a lot of room for improvement.