Hitachi develops automotive lithium-ion batteryhaving the world's highest output; sampling set to start in the fall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hitachi develops automotive lithium-ion battery
having the world's highest output*1; sampling set to start in the fall
Tokyo, May 19, 2009 --- Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT / TSE:6501,hereinafter Hitachi) today announced that Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd. which develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications, such as hybrid electric vehicles, have developed a lithium-ion battery having the world's highest power density of 4,500W/kg, 1.7 times the output of the company's mass-produced, automotive lithium-ion batteries. Sampling of the new battery by domestic and overseas car manufacturers will start To reduce internal resistance, the battery employs a new manganese cathode and an original Hitachi battery structure, in such as thinner electrodes, power collection method and effective configurations to achieve the world's highest output. In recent years, lithium-ion batteries have been used for many consumer product applications, including mobile telephones, notebook PCs and digital cameras. For the same energy density, a lithium-ion battery has about half the volume and weight of a nickel-metal hydrid battery, and about one-third the volume and weight of a lead acid battery. This makes the lithium-ion battery a small, light, high-energy-density secondary battery that is attracting attention for its applicability to hybrid and electric vehicles. In 2000, the Hitachi Group used its extensive technological and manufacturing capabilities in fields ranging from materials to battery control systems, to develop and mass-produce the world's first safe, high-performance, long-operating-life lithium-ion battery for automotive A second-generation lithium-ion battery with an power density of 2,600 W/kg that currently is being delivered for automotive and railway applications, is the world's only mass-produced lithium-ion battery for on-board applications. Up to this point, a total of some 600,000 cells have been delivered, mainly to car manufacturers and railway companies. Moreover, development of a third-generation lithium-ion battery having an even higher power density (3,000 W/kg) has already been completed, and will go into mass-production in 2010, with deliveries scheduled to begin the same year. The battery set to start sampling this fall has been developed as a fourth-generation lithium-ion battery that is even smaller and lighter yet able to provide the world's highest output. The high reliability of the new battery, in terms of mass-production and quality, is the culmination of manufacturing technology that Hitachi has built up in the course of its extensive market achievements, and through the feedback from its customers. Going forward, in addition to this lineup of stand-alone battery cell products, Hitachi will meet customer needs by providing optimal battery system solutions that include control In line with its long-term "Environmental Vision 2025"*2 plan to combat global warming, the Hitachi Group is using the expansion of its systems business, starting with its battery operations, to make a contribution to the future of the global environment, and to strengthen The new battery will be on display at the Automotive Engineering Exposition 2009 held at PACIFICO Yokohama from May 20 to May 22. *1: Lithium-ion battery for on-board applications, as of May 2009. *2: Announced December 20, 2007 in the press release entitled Hitachi Develops the Long-term Plan "Environmental Vision 2025" to Combat Global Warming. Outline of Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
(Hitachi, Ltd. 65.3%, Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd. 24.7%, : 1410, Inada Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki, Japan Marketing, development and manufacture of lithium-ion batteries
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global
electronics company with approximately 400,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 (ended
March 31, 2009) consolidated revenues totaled 10,000 billion yen ($102.0 billion).
The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors
including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer
products, materials, logistics and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please
visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information contained in this news release is current as
of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject
to change without prior notice.
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Source: http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/090519a.pdf