Toshiba to release fast charging battery

Tokyo-based Toshiba (OTC: TOSBF) announced that it planned to release a fast charging lithium ion battery early next year for use in industrial vehicles and other applications.

The company said its Super Charge ion Battery can recharge to 90 percent of full capacity in less than five minutes.

Toshiba said it plans to make the battery a mainstay of its industrial systems and automotive products businesses, with the first system to be shipped in March 2008.

"The excellent performance of the SCiB will assure its successful application in industrial systems and in the electronic vehicles markets as a new energy solution," said Toshiharu Watanabe, CEO of Toshiba's Industrial Systems group.

"In terms of environmental impacts, the SCiB offers a long life that will reduce waste."

The company said its battery management system monitors voltage and temperature in order to protect the cells and balances the state of charge in each cell.

Toshiba expects its batteries to be used in battery-powered bicycles, motorcycles, automated guided vehicles, electric forklift trucks and construction machinery.

The company also said the new system is a promising candidate for emergency power sources, electric power regeneration in wind power systems and stabilization of electric power supply, with applications in hybrid and electric cars also planned.