FEATURE Automotive Supply Chain
Battery technology for AGVs: Look beyond the obvious
Volker Schumann, General Manager for Battery Sales at Toshiba Electronics Europe, explains how LTO technology can reduce the total cost of ownership for applications such as automatic guided vehicles
B
attery technology is developing rapidly and, although squeezing as much capacity as possible into the smallest space at the lowest
cost is always required, some applications need a diff erent approach. Automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), for example, need optimised batteries at a reduced total cost of ownership, and Toshiba’s Lithium Titanium Oxide (LTO) battery technology can help.
LTO technology
This technology has a fundamentally diff erent chemical structure to other batteries, making it the most powerful and robust Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) type available today. In LTO batteries, the anode is formed from Lithium Titanate nanocrystals (Li4Ti5O12) instead of the more common graphite powder.
The technology lends itself to excellent battery cycling stability, where even after 8000 charge/discharge cycles the cell maintains almost 100% of its nominal capacity and shows no discernible degradation.
LTO cells in AGV applications In-factory effi ciencies require greater automation, and one area that can benefi t from this is that of AGVs – small electrically-powered vehicles used to move materials and goods, often around the clock. Considering the typical working profi le of a small AGV, the LTO battery technology can bring massive benefi ts here; around 75% of the time is spent driving with low power consumption. Raising cargo up uses the most power, whilst energy is recuperated and returned to the battery when lowering goods. In a typical 20-hour day, an AGV will use about 4.8kWh of energy – assuming it makes around 1,200 runs.
When considering the charging strategy and selecting the optimum battery, there are two options: One, the AGV can run a full working day and deplete a large battery, which can then be recharged in
36 March 2023 | Automation
Toshiba SCiB battery pack solution
about an hour; or, two, regular recharges can be used to keep a much smaller battery topped up during the day. In terms of working time, the two scenarios are the same, with some 60 minutes of each day being dedicated to charging. The fi rst option for daily recharging
requires a battery with a capacity of 165Ah, whereas in the second option, a 16.5Ah battery is typically recharged for six minutes, ten times per day. The challenge here is that much faster charging is required – the relative charging power is ten times higher. LTO technology recharges more quickly, without any risk of Li-metal plating. As a result, despite the lower energy density, this solution weighs under 10kg and, assuming a factor of two for the Euro/kWh, the cost for the cells would still only be a fi fth. Apart from the lower initial cost of the
battery, its smaller size and weight will make design easier and reduce the cost of the AGV. The operation will be much more effi cient and new applications such as shuttles connected to warehouse shelves will become possible. From the perspective of robustness and
ruggedness, the LTO solution off ers low risk of fi re, and does not require a warm
environment for charging or frequent replacing.
Toshiba SCiB battery pack solution Toshiba’s range of Super Charge Ion Batteries (SCiB) feature a 24V/22Ah LTO battery, designed specifi cally for industrial applications such as AGVs. The pack can operate from -30°C to +45°C and is capable of delivering up to 125A for 200 seconds. Measuring just 247 x 188 x 165mm and weighing only 8kg per pack, the SCiB batteries can be connected in parallel or in series for 48V operation. Status and diagnostic data is provided via a CAN bus. Toshiba’s battery technology is ideal for AGVs, which are becoming very common and must be small, nimble, reliable and low-cost to acquire and operate. Traditional school of thought states that batteries should deliver “more capacity at a lower cost” – the choice of an LTO battery can dramatically reduce costs whilst delivering a safer and more robust solution.
CONTACT:
Toshiba Electronics Europe
www.toshiba.eu
automationmagazine.co.uk
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