Toshiba and Cannondale Sports Group have announced that the electronic giant’s latest lithium ion battery will be featured on the Schwinn Tailwind e-bike. This bike will premiere at a conference for bike experts and manufacturers called Interbike 2008 on September 24-26, 2008 in Las Vegas. Toshiba’s development of an advanced lithium ion pack is at an intermediate stage with plans to manufacture batteries for all-electric vehicles in the future.
The Super Charge ion Battery from Toshiba has been designed to last longer than other lithium ion packs on the market. Toshiba has stated that the Super Charge ion Battery will be able to charge from empty to 90% capacity within five minutes of connecting to a standard plug. While rapid charging at this level seems unlikely, Toshiba seems to be on the right track if it wants to develop a practical battery for plug-in hybrids.
Toshiba’s latest battery will be used to aid bikers riding into headwinds and over hills. The Super Charge ion Battery is expected to last at least 6,000 full charges even as advanced lithium-ion batteries top out at 3,000 charges. The Schwinn Tailwind is expected to lose only 10% of its battery life after 3,000 charges based on testing by Toshiba. The longevity of each battery should help daily commuters navigate uneven terrain for years with proper maintenance.
Toshiba has achieved these test results by changing the internal nature of the lithium ion battery. The company’s researchers have focused on maintaining thermal stability to keep batteries from overheating during repeated charges. Toshiba also feels that the Super Charge ion Battery will experience fewer shorted circuits than other competitors through better research and development.
The Super Charge ion Battery is impressive as a power source for an e-bike but we should hold out our enthusiasm until Toshiba begins scaling up its operations for the automotive market. This battery will require greater capacity and power to keep a plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle in motion. If Cannondale Sports Group and Toshiba are able to sell Tailwinds by the thousands, they will have the results needed to convince automakers of the battery’s potential. The next generation of Toshiba’s lithium ion battery will need to handle coupes and sedans that are exponentially heavier than the Tailwind. If this advanced battery pack performs anywhere near Toshiba’s claims, it should be up to the challenge.
