Spearheading Transformation In The Mobility, Energy, And Logistics Sectors
At the heart of the quest for sustainability lies a powerful catalyst: Rechargeable Lithium-ion Batteries. Since their introduction over three decades ago, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have evolved from their simple application origins to the current state, where their capacities have grown exponentially and their applications encompass a multitude of critical infrastructure sectors like mobility, logistics, energy, etc.
These rechargeable lithium-ion batteries now find application in a wide spectrum, from replacing fossil fuel-based plants in large-scale grid storage to fueling the burgeoning demand for eco-conscious transportation.
Toshiba's SCiB™ : Spearheading the rechargeable battery evolution
Toshiba has been spearheading this transformation through its technologically advanced SCiB™ rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which present many industries with an unprecedented opportunity to decarbonise their energy consumption.
With their wide industrial and infrastructure applications, Toshiba's SCiB™ rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can minimise environmental impact, create economic value, and contribute to carbon neutrality. The SCiB™ rechargeable battery provides six distinct advantages that make it a preferred choice in various industrial and commercial applications.
Extremely low fire hazard: There is a very low risk of fire or explosion from internal short-circuits caused by external pressure. Therefore, SCiB™ is suitable for various applications requiring high levels of safety and reliability
Long life of over 20,000 cycles: Only a small degree of capacity degradation occurs even after more than 20,000 cycles* of charging and discharging. This is especially beneficial in applications that require frequent charging and discharging, such as large-scale storage battery systems.
(*Characteristics depend on cell type and usage conditions.)
Rapid charging: SCiB™ allows automobiles, buses, and other vehicles to be charged more than 80 percent capacity in just 6 minutes at cell level. In addition, frequent rapid charging does not cause significant deterioration in capacity.
High Input/Output: SCiB™ can be charged and discharged at high current, making it store a large amount of regenerative power produced by a train or an automobile while the brake is being applied and provide the high current necessary for a motor to start.
Wide Range Temp Operation: Even when SCiB™ is charged at low temperatures, lithium metal does not precipitate, allowing it to be charged and discharged repeatedly at temperatures as low as -30°C. SCiB™ performs well at high temperatures, too. It can normally operate at temperatures up to +60°C.
Wide SOC Range of 0 percent to 100 percent: SCiB™ can be used over the SOC range of 0 percent to 100 percent since it maintains excellent input/output characteristics over a wide usable SOC range. This makes it possible to reduce the number of batteries mounted on a system.
Toshiba's SCiB™: Delivering high value with low total ownership cost
SCiB™ cells keep more than 70 percent of their capacity after 20,000 State of Charge (SOC) 100 percent charge-discharge cycles. There is much less degradation expected if the SOC window is limited to 50 percent–90 percent. This means SCiB™ packs do not require replacement for a long time, and since they are also maintenance-free, the overall total cost of ownership is relatively lower.
SCiB™ has both high input and high output features and, if needed, can be charged or discharged in just 6 minutes, compared to more than 30 minutes for conventional batteries. This enables SCiB™ to reduce the battery capacity requirement. A smaller battery capacity requirement also means that the size of the battery can be reduced, resulting in a lower initial investment.
Toshiba's SCiB™: Application in critical infrastructure sectors
SCiB™ helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 and NOx emissions, reduces life cycle costs and improves operating rates, saves space in battery systems, and enables the construction of highly safe and reliable battery systems.
Therefore, SCiB™ is used in a wide range of fields of social infrastructure, from small devices, houses, and roads to factories, ports, and power plants. Toshiba’s SCiBTM has been widely used for vehicle, industrial, and infrastructure applications, including automobiles, buses, railroad cars, elevators, and power plants.
Green Mobility
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV): SCiB™ is the ideal lithium-ion battery for HEVs because of its excellent input/output performance and long life. As of September 2023, SCiB™ had been installed in more than seven million HEVs.
Electric Buses: Electric buses using SCiB™ can be charged in a short period of time. They can therefore be designed with a much smaller battery capacity and without the need to charge multiple vehicles at once, making it possible to provide wider passenger space and reduce the vehicle's weight and cost.
A bus operator can reduce the total number of buses on any given route by frequent charging and discharging. The number of buses that can be reduced is more than 30 percent (depending on the availability of fast DC chargers & round-trip distance). It is estimated globally 2,000 E-Buses approximately have applied so far to opportunity charging.
Railways: Trains with SCiB™ can be rapidly charged during limited electrified sections. SCiB™ is also suitable as a backup power source to drive a train in an emergency because of its safety and durability.
Electric Ships: Ferryboats using SCiB™ can be charged during a short port stop to cover the electricity required for a round trip. This saves the need to install a large battery capacity that allows a ferryboat to continue travelling for a whole day, making it possible to secure wide cabin space.
Green Energy: Electric Power Systems
The excellent cycle life characteristics of SCiB™ make it suitable for battery energy storage systems for primary frequency regulation. Its exceptional long cycle life characteristics support grid frequency regulation that requires repeated charging/discharging.
Green Logistics: Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
The combination of the rapid-charging feature of SCiB™ and an automatic charging function makes it possible to create AGVs and AMRs that run on a battery alone. In addition, its long life helps extend the replacement purchase cycle, thereby reducing the operating cost and waste. SCiB™ also obviates the workload for battery replacement.
Toshiba's SCiB™: Contribution to india's green vision
Toshiba's SCiB™ has been certified as "Excellent ECP (Environmentally Conscious Products) of Toshiba Group's internal certification programme for its characteristics and design considerations that satisfy the following 3 key factors, which can contribute to a sustainable environment. Furthermore, Toshiba Battery Division established an environmental management system covering the entire business process to promote environmental business activities.
Toshiba's dedication to India's green goal is evident in its strategic initiatives and investments. Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, and Denso Corporation have established a joint venture company for the production of automotive lithium-ion battery packs in India.
The battery pack manufacturing joint venture by the three companies will realise a stable supply of rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs in India in the course of promoting sustainable cars in the country and will contribute to the "Make in India" initiative by the Indian Government.
The company recently signed an agreement with EVage Automotive Private Limited to supply its SCiB™ cells to power the next 10,000 EVage electric commercial vehicles. This is the first deployment of lithium titanium oxide (LTO) cells into commercial delivery vans, assisting EVage vehicles to achieve breakthroughs in battery safety, reliability, and performance, a major benefit for its delivery fleet customers.
Toshiba's unwavering commitment to India's green goals underscores its dedication to sustainable development and environmental responsibility. Toshiba's pledge of 'Committed to People, Committed to the Future'. represents sustainable development and growth at the core of its business operations. Toshiba India will provide advanced solutions by utilising the unique characteristics of SCiB™ rechargeable lithium-ion cells to help create a carbon-neutral India for a new day.