ZapBatt has partnered with Toshiba, merging its proprietary artificial intelligence software technology and next-gen battery hardware with Toshiba’s lithium titanium oxide (LTO) battery cells to create a new battery option for the micro-mobility marketplace. This combined solution enables lithium titanium oxide to be a faster, smarter, and more economical battery system while allowing real-time battery management and optimization.

“ZapBatt unlocked the potential of Toshiba’s LTO chemistry for a variety of industries and new markets with disruptive technology, moving away from the ‘miracle battery’ trap and providing a real solution hitting the market today,” said Greg Mack, Vice President & General Manager – Power Electronics Division, at Toshiba. “With ZapBatt’s hardware and software, and our LTO chemistry, there is no other solution as fast, safe, and cost-effective on the market.”

This technology promises to promote widespread use of lithium titanium oxide chemistry for more efficient and longer-lasting batteries. They claim they can fully charge in a mere 20 minutes and have a 20-year lifespan.

INNOVATION

To do this, ZapBatt had to create chips to work with LTO batteries, as none existed before. They created an LTO-optimized battery management system that works at the unique voltages of LTO with the ability to be re-configured to adapt as the cell chemistry grows, enabling a programmable chip that can work with other chemistries and voltages. ZapBatt’s unique bi-directional adaptive terminal voltage (BATV) technology allows for voltage control of the battery system digitally with software. This is like a ‘universal adapter’. It allows LTO to be a one-for-one swap of any lithium-ion chemistry without the customer modifying their system allowing the batteries to be re-configured for other applications at software speed. Their integrated AI allows the battery to improve the system’s performance by analyzing how energy is being used, such as enhanced regenerative braking for e-bikes.

“For global carbon reduction and electrification, we need better battery solutions now, not in ten years. To address this problem, we worked with Toshiba to allow lithium titanium oxide to come alive, bridge into new markets quickly, and provide maximum economic and environmental benefits,” said Charlie Welch, CEO and Co-founder of ZapBatt. “Unlike other chemistries, lithium titanium oxide is very efficient in a variety of conditions, not just on a lab bench. It’s like the Seabiscuit of batteries.”

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The cells provide up to a 100 percent usable charge without shortening cycle life, allowing for longer use. Additionally, the cells perform in freezing temperatures as low as -30 degrees celsius, compared to 0 degrees celsius for typical Li-ion.

On top of the ability to perform in freezing temperatures, the cells reduce operating expenses and e-waste and eliminate fire risk with the use of ZapBatt’s LTO system. LTO batteries have virtually no risk for self-thermal runaway. Most micro-mobility fires occur due to lithium-ion batteries containing oxides of nickel, manganese, aluminum, or cobalt. This type of chemical fire typically occurs when the battery is punctured, sustains damage, is poorly manufactured, overused, or breaks down internally. As a result of the lack of carbon on the anode surfaces and the fact that LTO is free of these oxides (similar to lithium-iron-phosphate), the battery chemistry is effectively immune to thermal runaway and battery fires.