Hitachi Announces the Most Powerful Li-Ion Battery, Excellent for Cars

Hitachi recently confirmed our reports in early May that they've developed the lithium-ion battery with the world's highest power density of 4,500 W/kg. That's 1.7 times the output of the company's current automotive lithium-ion battery, which has a power density of 2,600 W/kg.

The Japanese company says that in order to reduce internal resistance, the new 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.

Hitachi has also completed development and testing for a third-generation lithium-ion battery having a power density of 3,000 W/kg, which is scheduled to go into mass production in 2010, with deliveries scheduled to begin the same year.

The 4,500 W/kg 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.

Most automakers with hybrid or fully-electric models have been using nickel-metal hydride cells, but recent developments, such as this one, will allow them to make the switch and benefit from the regular advantages of lithium-ion batteries: considerably reduced volume and weight for the same energy density.

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