Introduction of large-sized nickel–metal hydride battery GIGACELL® for industrial applications

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 580; pp. S353 - S358
• Main Authors: Nishimura, Kazuya, Takasaki, Tomoaki, Sakai, Tetsuo
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Battery power system; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electric batteries; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Exact sciences and technology; Industrial application; Industrial applications; Metal hydrides; Nickel; Nickel–metal hydride battery; Railroads; Railway engineering; Railways; Regenerative; Nickel–metal hydride battery; Battery power system; Industrial application; Nickel hydrogen batteries; Energy loss; Nickel hydride; Nickel―metal hydride battery; Battery; Electrochemistry
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.01.166

► Innovative design of the structure of the Ni–MH battery, called the GIGACELL®. ► Verification test of GIGACELL® for a battery-driven light rail vehicle SWIMO®. ► Verification-tests of the wayside energy storage system (BPS) for railways. ► Verification tests of GIGACELL® in a power grid. ► Recent development for extremely large-sized GIGACELL®. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHIs) has developed a large-sized nickel–metal hydride (Ni–MH) battery, called the GIGACELL®. The bipolar 3D design of the GIGACELL® reduces the energy loss between single cells, thus allowing a high power and large capacity. KHI has successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of this battery for industrial applications, such as a battery-driven light rail vehicle (LRV), Battery Power System (BPS) for railways, and stabilization of power grids. This new energy-storage device will suppress the occurrence of regenerative failure in a railway and enable the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Widespread use of this battery will significantly contribute to energy savings in the social-infrastructure.