Toyota announces plans for new NiMH battery plant
Toyota today released further details about one of its new battery plants in Japan. The plant, to be operated by Panasonic EV Energy (the joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic), is planned to be constructed in Taiwa-cho, Kurokawa-gun, Miyagi Prefecture north of Tokyo. The $290 million plant is expected to start turning out 100,000 nickel metal hydride batteries a year in early 2010. Eventually it will ramp up to twice that number to help supply the needs of the one million hybrids that Toyota hopes to be producing annually by the end of the next decade. [Source: Toyota]
May 27, 2008
Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
Panasonic EV Energy Plans HV Battery Plant in Miyagi Prefecture
KOSAI, Shizuoka Prefecture-Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) announced today that
it plans to establish a plant in Japan's Miyagi Prefecture to increase PEVE's supply of
batteries for hybrid vehicles.
Details are as follows:
1. Prospective location: Taiwa Ryutsu Kogyo Danchi (logistics & industrial
park), Taiwa-cho, Kurokawa-gun, Miyagi Prefecture
2. Start of operations: Beginning of 2010 (scheduled)
3. Product lineup: Nickel-metal hydride batteries for hybrid vehicles
4. Production capacity: Approx. 200,000 battery packs a year (approx. 100,000
packs a year at start-up)
5. Investment: Approximately 30 billion yen
The new plant is expected to create approximately 300 jobs.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
meme 4:15PM (5/27/2008)
I should follow up on their lead and build plants to mass-produce slide rules, buggy whips, and to process whales for lantern oil.
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david burgdorff 3:15PM (5/27/2008)
So Toyota plans to be using NiMH well out into the future. I would think that within a few short years we will be buying plug-in hybrid cars with lithium ion batteries. I've always thought that the Prius technology was a stepping stone to electric cars or extended range electric. The next couple of years will be very interesting.
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Shades 3:32PM (5/27/2008)
I had the same thought. Why NiMH vs Li-ON batteries? They must feel that over time that NiMH batteries will improve over time to hold a greater charge and also charge fast. Who knows, maybe NiMH batteries will someday be smaller and more efficient.
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meme 4:15PM (5/27/2008)
I think Toyota realizes that NiMH is old tech. But they're heavily invested in it, and are hoping that the li-ion adopters (which is pretty much everyone else) will stumble.
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Cianof 5:19PM (5/27/2008)
This is good news, NiMH have a relatively low toxicity and can be reycled.
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MarcT 5:41PM (5/27/2008)
I think Toyota has made it clear that they are not going to be quick to abandon NiMH batteries, even as they begin producing Lithium Ion. Much as Toyota is not giving up on hybrids even as they begin selling clean diesels and E-85 vehicles; or as they plan to market conventional hybrids alongside plug-in hybrids. Toyota knows that not every green technology meets everyone's needs. The added expense of a lithium ion battery cannot be borne by all. As the price of mass produced NiMH batteries declines (and presumably the weight as well?), they will become the mainstream option, leaving lithium batteries to find homes in more expensive models.
There will come a time when a Yaris buyer will be able to opt for a $1500-2000 upgrade to a hybrid model. But that will only be possible if the car is using NiMH batteries. There is no way it would make economic sense (for at least the next several years) to stuff an expensive lithium ion battery in a Yaris or Corolla.
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Lad 7:27PM (5/27/2008)
Recent news has it that Toyota is building a Li Ion battery plant also. I think they are planning smartly to hedge their bets by building Li ion batteries, which will be initially expense, and building a somewhat larger NiMH battery to transition to PHEVs. Changing a NiMH plant over to produce Li Ion batteries shouldn't be a difficult task if and when their Li Ion cars reach critical mass. I would trust Toyota's judgement and not assume they will continue with only NiMH hybrids.
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Kevin Nugent 8:08PM (5/27/2008)
I
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Kevin Nugent 8:08PM (5/27/2008)
I just hope that Toyota does not expect to much from the market because during that 2010 timeline e tehir will also be alot of new available ev's ad hybrid that will revolutionize cars as we know it. That 1 million dollar mark may me lower due to customers looking else where and exploring different opportunities. Then again with a 4 dollar price tag for gas and in due years going to get higher the demand could possibly swing the other way you never know.
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jpm100 10:16PM (5/27/2008)
Must be nice to have such loyal fans that you can fart and people talk about the subtle aromas.
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david burgdorff 10:22PM (5/27/2008)
I looked up the patent for NiMH. It expires in 2014. Perhaps a combination of NiMH with Supercaps will give us a viable plug-in hybrid. I'm intrigued by the fact that a ICE running as a constant speed generator is much more efficient than if it's powering the wheels. The volt is supposed to give us 50 mpg after the engine starts. So even with less "electric only" range, a cheaper battery might be more economical.
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Randy C. 1:32AM (5/28/2008)
As it turns out NiMH batteries work very well in hybrid and electric cars. They can handle the rapid charge and discharge required in a hybrid. They also have very good calendar life in an electric car as proven by the Toyota RAV4-EV. They are also very tolerant of over discharge while lithium can be severely damaged.
Toyota knows this from first hand data i.e. gathered from their own vehicles. Why spend a large amount of money on unproven lithium when you know NiMH will work.
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Chris M 4:31PM (5/28/2008)
Lithium batteries have a big advantage in energy density over NiMH, but NiMH is still cheaper on a $ per Kwh stored basis. Until recently, NiMH also had a big advantage in durability.
Toyota is planning to use NiMH for their cheaper hybrids and possibly for "short EV range" plug-in hybrids, and they will reserve LiIon for luxury and high performance hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Of course, if the per Kwh price of LiIon should drop and/or the price of NiMH rise, Toyota will probably switch to LiIon exclusively.
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Ray K 5:55PM (6/10/2008)
It seems that most who post don't bother to read the content...
1) NiMH isn't easily recycled yet, but they're working on it;
2) LiIon batteries for cars are a potential future technology, they still have significant problems, such as thermal runaway (as in catching fire);
3) NiMH batteries are a PROVEN technology (by both GM & Toyota)
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