Advances in rechargeable batteries, superconducting motors and semiconductors are resulting in more sustainable e-mobility solutions

 

The quest for sustainable transportation is fuelling remarkable innovations in electric mobility. Whether it’s trains, planes, automobiles, and beyond, electric technologies enhance efficiencies and curb carbon emissions, paving the way towards a cleaner and greener future for us all.

Indeed, according to market research, the global electric mobility market size was worth $597.27 billion in 2024 and is predicted to reach around $4719.79 billion by 2034, growing at an annual rate of 22.96% during that period.

Much of the technological advancement in e-mobility is being propelled by breakthroughs in the component building blocks such as semiconductors and batteries. Here, engineers and materials scientists are applying their creativity and expertise to broaden the horizons of what’s achievable – refining electric technologies and extending their use to a growing range of applications.

 

Developing Safer, Longer-Lasting Batteries

But what does this mean in practical terms? Which tangible innovations are advancing sustainability in e-mobility, and where might they go in the near future? Perhaps one of the most significant areas of advancement comes with the development of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which act as the energy source for many electrified transportation systems. Lithium-ion batteries are small and lightweight, and their energy density offers high voltage and large capacity. Initially, their outstanding ability to withstand charge and discharge cycles contributed to the development and widespread use in consumer devices like smartphones. However, scaling them for use in e-mobility has been a challenge as engineers look to achieve even greater capacity, energy density and durability – while ensuring safety.

Toshiba has met this challenge by developing a lithium-ion battery that uses lithium titanium oxide (LTO) in its anode. Using LTO in the anode, SCiB™ offers excellent characteristics, including safety, long life of over 20,000 charge/discharge cycles, low-temperature performance, rapid charging, high input/output power and wide usable State of Charge range. Critically, with SCiB™ there is a very low risk of fire or explosion from internal short circuits. These technical attributes make these lithium titanium oxide batteries ideal for sustainable use in e-mobility environments, such as buses, heavy-duty vehicles and mining trucks, railroad cars, and passenger ferries.

 

Lithium Titanium Oxide Batteries In Action

Let us look at some of those applications in more detail. Rail holds exciting potential for electrification as operating companies worldwide look to find more sustainable alternatives to diesel trains. Diesel locomotives have been used to travel non-electrified sections. SCiB™ makes it possible for railway vehicles to travel with electric power or hybrid mode because trains with these batteries can be rapidly charged during limited electrified sections and can effectively collect and use regenerative energy during non-electrified sections. SCiB™ is also suitable as a backup power source that drives a train in an emergency because of its safety and durability.

These benefits mean more electric and hybrid trains are starting to enter service. For example, DB Cargo will use Toshiba’s HDB 800 hybrid locomotive with SCiB™ targeting annual energy savings of at least 30% and savings of at least 1 million litres of diesel fuel per year.  Siemens uses SCiB™ as a traction power source for its Mireo plus B railway system to achieve net zero emissions of regional traffic, while also realizing high safety and long life as a traction power source.

Other applications have come to the fore. At current growth rates, shipping could represent some 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Shipping operators are therefore determined to adopt new technologies that support a shift to more electrified operations. Again, SCiB™ is helping to empower organizations towards a cleaner future, offering safety, long life, low-temperature performance, and rapid charging, along with excellent value from a lifetime cost of ownership perspective.

Stockholm-headquartered Echandia is leading the way with the electrification of maritime vessels, having developed a lightweight, high-performance battery system that uses SCiB™ cells. Since its first project in 2016, Echandia has worked on 45 maritime battery installations globally. It aims to become the market leader in pure battery solutions, and its work has set it firmly on that path.

These are just a couple of examples of applications in rail and maritime. But SCiB™ is making waves in many other transportation sectors, including buses and mining trucks. In each case, SCiB™ has been shown to offer a flexible, durable, cost-effective and safe energy source across multiple applications.

 

Superconducting Motors Take To The Sky

Interestingly, technology advancements in e-mobility are not restricted to batteries. Another area of innovation is superconducting motors – which hold exciting potential in sectors such as aviation. In October 2022, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN specialized agency that coordinates and develops international air navigation and travel, set new targets for reducing CO₂ emissions from international flights: a 15% cut from 2024 against 2019 and the achievement of net zero by 2050. To achieve such reductions, there is an expectation that electric motors will replace fossil-fuel-powered jet engines. That’s where superconducting motors come in, making it possible to simultaneously achieve the lightness required for mounting on aircraft and the high output power needed to replace jet engines.

Advances in this application are gathering pace. Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus, and Toshiba are working together to develop a 2-megawatt superconducting motor for future hydrogen-powered aircraft. Superconducting technologies offer a unique advantage for these aircraft, using -253°C liquid hydrogen as a fuel but also to efficiently cool the electric propulsion systems. Cryogenic technology could allow for nearly unimpaired power transmission within the electric systems of the aircraft, significantly improving their energy efficiency and performance.

The partnership is an excellent example of electrification in aviation in action. Toshiba will provide expertise in superconducting technology for high current flow, motor drive technology for precise current control, and advanced rotating machinery technology for stable, high-speed operation – helping push beyond the limitations of today’s partial superconducting and conventional electrical motors and supporting Airbus to deliver a hydrogen-powered future.

 

Semiconductors Support Better Performance

Finally, developments in semiconductors and associated technologies are also supporting the switch to more sustainable e-mobility solutions. For example, Toshiba has introduced third-generation silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs, which significantly reduce energy losses in power systems to improve the overall efficiency of electric technologies. Schottky barrier diode (SBD)-embedded SiC MOSFET, meanwhile, offer lower resistance and, consequently, reduced power consumption, leading to better energy management and longer driving ranges for electrified systems.

Then there is Toshiba’s SmartMCD, a motor control driver IC which integrates a microcontroller and gate driver, and streamlines the design of electric vehicle systems, such as pumps and fans, by delivering precise and efficient motor control – saving space and reducing costs. These four technological innovations collectively support the development of more sustainable mobility by improving the energy efficiency, reliability, and performance of electric systems and the infrastructure that powers them.

 

Committed to People.  Committed to the Future

The advances discussed show that sustainable e-mobility is advancing fast. All across transportation, the adoption of electric technologies is resulting in a reduction of carbon emissions, leading to environmental benefits for all.

Toshiba will continue to play a central role in this transformation, leveraging technological capabilities and knowledge cultivated in almost 150 years of doing business to realize a more sustainable society for all. To achieve this, Toshiba will continue investing in research and development in areas such as batteries, superconducting motors and semiconductors, and will continue to partner with companies and governments to drive innovation forward.

Ultimately, Toshiba is fully committed to helping the transportation sector achieve ambitions of carbon neutrality, underlying the company’s enduring philosophy of being ‘Committed to People, Committed to the Future’.