Swedish battery and fuel cell systems developer Echandia and Japan's Toshiba have reached an agreement to jointly develop high-power fuel cell technology to further electrify the maritime sector.
It is understood that the goal of the cooperation between the two parties is to develop a market for marine fuel cell solutions, focusing on extreme heavy-duty applications, and Echandia hopes to extend the life of typical fuel cells by at least 2 times.
Heavy-duty and durable fuel cell solutions are becoming an increasingly important part of the decarbonization solution for maritime transport as the demand for electrification of deep sea and large vessels increases.
The battery energy storage system based on lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12 commonly known as LTO) technology developed by Echandia has obtained type approval issued by Bureau Veritas (BV) and safety certification issued by DNV GL. Its E-LTO energy storage system uses Toshiba's lithium titanate battery, which has superior charging performance and high-power charging and discharging capabilities, and can be used continuously for 10 years or more. With superior safety, longevity and high charging capability, the safest marine battery technology is used to resist external heat and other hazards and prevent thermal runaway.
Echandia produces heavy-duty LTO battery systems for the marine and rail markets. The company's lithium titanate battery systems are designed to last for 10 years or more to ensure heavy-duty operation without compromising safety or performance, with superior charging performance and high-power charge-discharge capabilities.
In 2019, Toshiba announced that it had developed a new lithium-ion battery that can be charged quickly and has a long lifespan. When the battery is used in a small electric vehicle (EV), it can travel 320 kilometers in 6 minutes, about 3 times that of the past. In terms of cycling, even if the battery is repeatedly charged and discharged 5000 times, it can still maintain more than 90% of the battery capacity. In addition, fast charging can also be achieved in a low temperature environment of minus 10 °C.
Echandia's fuel cell technology will power the world's first completely zero-emission high-speed carbon fiber catamaran. In addition, the company has decided to open a business development centre in Aberdeen, UK, to provide offshore electrification services to the UK market.
