Hitachi has invented a technology that is able to double the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries – a change that could have a major impact on electric car market.
The maximum life of a lithium-ion battery today is up to 5 years and Hitachi claims the new batteries can last up to 10 years without needing to be replaced.
The method that Hitachi uses will extend the life of the manganese cathodes inside a cell, resulting in the batteries being able to achieve a lifespan of 10 years before needing to be replaced.
The additional benefit of this new technology is that it uses less cobalt than usual batteries. Since Hitachi has reduced the use of cobalt, which is a rare material, the new batteries will be less costly.
The batteries are expected to be used for industrial applications such as storing energy from wind power or powering construction gear.
[source: Pure Green Cars]
