Development of breakthrough technologies to realize innovative rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles

This project, launched by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in 2009, aims to create breakthrough technologies that will achieve revolutionary batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Several universities and companies are participating in the project, with Kyoto University as the representative institution.
Reduction of CO2 emissions is a core component of plans to combat global warming. Taking the view that the electrification of automobiles would be a vital measure for achieving such targets, several automakers announced plans to sell millions of EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the 2020s. Unfortunately, the batteries in use in today’s EVs and PHEVs are inconvenient, suffering from short travel ranges and long charging times, and are expensive to manufacture. These shortcomings pose formidable obstacles for the spread of EVs. In this local project, taking account of the results of earlier projects, the automakers are moving steadily forward with R&D in a five-year plan to resolve these issues, starting in 2021.

Model of a fluoride battery slated for development and commercialization