Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, in collaboration with Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd. (head office, Minami-ku, Kyoto), has recently developed a new low cost, high power lithium ion battery for use in electric vehicles. Joint development work began in the autumn of 1996.

Lithium ion batteries realize a significant increase in the energy stored energy(driving range) and the power (acceleration) per unit weight over the conventional lead-acid battery but is expensive because cobalt is used in the electrodes. The new lithium ion battery developed by the company and Japan Storage Battery uses manganese electrodes, this metal being inexpensive and more abundant than cobalt, and thereby enables the mass-production of a high power battery at a lower cost.

The companies have developed two types of lithium ion batteries: one for use in electric vehicles (EV) and one for other use in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). The lithium ion battery for use in EV's has a higher capacity and enables an driviing range of over 250km while still leaving space inside the vehicle. The lithium ion battery for HEV's, meanwhile, produces more power and gives priority to lower weight over capacity because the on-board engine assures a satisfactory driving range.

In addressing the global environment issue, the company has been a trailblazer in the EV/HEV field and is ready to apply the technology in production models. The electric motors, generators and batteries required for EV's and HEV's mean substantial increases in vehicle weight, cost and quantities of natural resources used. For this reason, the company intends to continue development of these vehicles, aiming at small volume production for use in specific areas such as factories and hospitals as well as for some commercial purposes.

In another plank of its environment strategy, the company has already produced over 100,000 passenger models (end of August, 1997) powered by its revolutionary GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) environmental engine. The company believes that the GDI engine, with its superior performance in terms of the environment, resource conservation and economy, will become the benchmark power unit for the 21st century.

New lithium ion battery specifications