Boosting battery development

Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization is promoting a 7-year project to develop next-generation batteries.

With 22 participants, including leading academic institutions (Kyoto, Waseda and Tohoku Universities) as well as 12 leading auto and battery makers, the project is expected to attract JPY21bn (USD216m) in funding.

Goals include:

• 3x power/weight improvement in lithium-ion batteries
• 500km (310 miles) on a single charge for electric vehicles (2020 goal)
• home use batteries to store power from locally installed renewable (solar, wind) sources

Though some NEDO projects in the past have appeared to be little more pork barrel funding, this seems to have a little more substance and purpose to it than previous efforts.