Module with double the heat dissipation for EV Buses, electric ships and stationary applications

Toshiba Electronics Europe has announced that Toshiba Corporation has launched a new SCiB module, a lithium-ion battery developed for use in EV buses, electric ships, and stationary applications. The new product features an aluminium baseplate that dissipates approximately twice the heat of current modules.

The use of lithium-ion batteries is growing and diversifying, and there is an increasing demand for batteries that can support constant rapid charging and discharging in applications as diverse as electric buses and power load levelling in stationary applications. However, continuous input and output at high power levels in a short period generates life-shortening heat within the batteries. The challenges for battery developers are managing heat dissipation and maintaining battery life while realising high power input and output quickly.

The company's new rechargeable batteries have a lithium titanate negative electrode that realises safe operation, a long life, low-temperature performance, fast charging, high input and output, and a high effective state of charge (SOC). They are widely employed in hybrid vehicles and industrial applications, including electric buses, cranes, trains, and automated guided vehicles in logistics centres. Along with battery packs and cells, the company also offers battery modules connected in series or parallel connections to meet needed voltages and capacities.

Users of module products want a balance between constant high input and output in a short time and battery life. The company has met this growing demand with a new module that is the first to feature an aluminium baseplate. Aluminium is an exceptional conductor, and the new module dissipates heat at approximately twice the rate of current battery modules.

Aluminium has a lower thermal resistance than the resin materials normally used in baseplates. However, as it is a conductor, the baseplate must be insulated from the battery cells. The company has developed a novel structure that attains the needed voltage resistance, permitting commercialisation. When employed with the same cooling system normally applied by customers, and under typical operating conditions, heat dissipation performance is approximately double that of current modules, greatly extending battery life.

The battery module will be certified under the UL1973 safety standard for stationary applications, including off-grid applications and microgrids.