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Mazda, ELIIY Power and Ube Industries Agree to Jointly Develop 12-Volt Lithium-ion Starter Batteries for Vehicles

Developing Safe, Durable Lithium-ion Batteries to Replace Lead-Acid Batteries

March 15, 2018

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation, ELIIY Power Co., Ltd. and Ube Industries, Ltd. have agreed to jointly develop lithium-ion batteries for use in automobiles. The three companies will work together to develop durable, heat- and impact-resistant 12-Volt lithium-ion batteries as a viable replacement for lead-acid starter batteries in motor vehicles by 2021.

Lithium-ion batteries offer a promising alternative to conventional lead-acid car batteries, as environmental regulations in some regions restrict the use of lead and engineers aim to reduce vehicle weight for improved fuel economy. But their application in motor vehicles so far has been limited due to the need for car batteries to withstand the high temperatures of the engine room and the potential impact forces of a collision. With this new project, Mazda, ELIIY Power and Ube Industries will combine their technical strengths to overcome such issues.

Making use of the industry-leading computer-aided model-based development techniques it honed while developing SKYACTIV Technology, Mazda will conduct model-based research of the chemical reactions that occur inside batteries, develop technologies to manage high-performance batteries from a vehicle-total perspective and develop a general purpose model for their use.

ELIIY Power makes high-quality stationary batteries and starter batteries for motorcycles. The safety and performance of its lithium-ion starter batteries for motorcycles is widely recognized, and the company started supplying them to a major Japanese motorcycle manufacturer in 2016. ELIIY Power will leverage its experience in developing safe, water-proof, impact-resistant battery technologies with excellent cold-weather performance to lead design and development of the basic battery unit.

As a leader in the development of key components such as electrolytes and separators, Ube Industries has made significant contributions to improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries and expanding their range of applications. Its functional electrolytes have brought improvements in battery safety and longevity, and enabled higher capacity for higher voltage batteries. The company will use its accumulated expertise and engineering prowess to develop an electrolyte with a higher flash point and better heat resistance.

In light of global trends in environmental regulations, the joint development project aims to make a next-generation battery for widespread use in place of conventional lead-acid starter batteries and contribute to the realization of a safe and stress-free motorized society. In addition, the three companies will assess prospects for further collaboration in a range of fields, including using the technologies that result from this project as base for other low-voltage lithium-ion batteries applicable to vehicle electrification technologies other than starter batteries.

About Ube Industries

Ube Industries’ global operations are driven by its core chemicals business, and the company is also active in the fields of pharmaceuticals, cement and construction materials, machinery, and energy and environment. In the battery materials business, the company has long been a supplier of electrolytes and separators that are the main materials of lithium-ion batteries, tracing back to the commercial development of lithium-ion batteries.
Ube Industries specializes in manufacturing separators using a dry process. These separators are extensively used in automotive battery applications, and the company has achieved steady growth in sales as demand has risen in both Japanese and international markets.
Currently, the company is expanding its lineup of electrolytes under a strategy of increasing battery performance and durability with additives that leverage its proprietary organic synthesis technology and electrochemical expertise. These electrolytes are helping to realize various improvements such as in battery life, battery capacity to accommodate higher voltages, and safety, and the company has established a reputation for technology development.
Ube Industries will continue to strengthen its business platform for battery materials focusing on electrolytes and separators as it continues to meet the demands of growing and increasingly sophisticated markets.

Contact

  • Mazda Motor Corporation
  • Corporate Communications Div.
  • Global Communications Planning Dept.
  • Phone : +81-82-565-2302
  • ELIIY Power Co., Ltd.
  • Public Relations Dept.
  • Phone : +81-3-6431-9047
  • Sales and Marketing Dept.
  • Phone : +81-3-6431-9044
For inquiries please contact
  • Ube Industries, Ltd.
  • General Affairs & Public Relations Group
  • Seavans North Building, 1-2-1 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8449
  • Phone : +81-3-5419-6110
  • Contact us by Internet.