The sticking point to most electric car manufacturing is the battery. Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen are now working together to create a car battery that can stand up to most driving. The intention is that these Toshiba electric car batteries will help electric cars go farther, charge a whole lot faster and be more economical.
The problem with batteries
Ever since the electric cars have been around, the battery has been in question. An electric car relies on batteries for all of its power, and those batteries are notoriously heavy, short-lived and take a long time to charge. This was solved by the battery-gas hybrid. In the push for all-electric cars, nevertheless, the race to develop better batteries is in full swing.
Electric car batteries major players
Tesla motors is currently the big name in electric autos – and this is due to its battery technology. Tesla’s electric roadster that costs $109,000 has a 300 mile range, but the high price tag is surely a barrier. The Nissan electric Leaf is $25,000, but the battery only lasts for about 100 miles. Toshiba and Mitsubishi have partnered up to create a SCiB — Super Charge ion Battery — that can be long-lasting and relatively inexpensive. Currently, Panasonic supplies batteries to Honda and Ford, when Hitachi supplies General Motors and NEC supplies Nissan.
Toshiba and their battery experience
The Toshiba push to create an electric car battery fits into the technology the company has long been developing. Toshiba makes motors for bullet trains, machinery, and elevators. By combining its SCiB battery technology with its engine know-how, the business is going to be building motors for a Ford hybrid within the future. Toshiba is partnering with Mitsubishi to make a Peugeot/Mitsubishi/Toshiba electric vehicle in Europe. Toshiba is also partnering with Volkswagen to make an all electric car.
Electric vehicle technology is improving along with battery life. This is good for the zero emissions vehicle market.
