Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles now have Hitachi to power them up, with the new lithium-ion battery developed by Hitachi Ltd and Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd. This battery pack has a higher energy density (120Wh/kg) and a high output density (2,400W/kg), making it ideal for use in plug-in hybrids. The energy density of this cell is twice as high as the one’s available in the market today. Measuring 146 x 110 x 30mm and weighing around 0.75 kg, this lithium-ion battery has an average voltage of 3.6V. The positive electrode contains a manganese substance, and the negative electrode contains a carbon material. Samples of these batteries will be shipped by 2010.

The company currently is producing its second generation products and plans to chisel out 300,000 third generation units per month for General Motors Corp. these third generation units are 40mm in diameter, 92mm in length, have a current capacity of 4.4Ahv, an average output of 3.6V and an output density of 3000W/kg. A fourth generation unit developed by Hitachi has an output density 1.5 times more than this third generation unit. PHEV’s will benefit from these developments by Hitachi.

[Techon]