Toshiba Corporation (President: Taro Shimada, Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo), Sojitz Corporation (President: Kosuke Uemura, Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), and Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM), one of the world's top niobium producers based in Brazil (President: Ricardo Lima, Headquarters: São Paulo), have jointly developed a next-generation lithium-ion battery for electric buses using niobium titanium oxide (NTO) as the negative electrode. On June 19 (Brazil time), they unveiled a prototype electric bus equipped with this battery, which can be ultra-fast charged in about 10 minutes, and started demonstration testing of the vehicle in operation at the Araxá mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where CBMM has interests.
The use of NTO as the negative electrode in a lithium-ion battery-equipped electric vehicle is the world's first (*1). The three companies will maximize their respective technologies, know-how, and expertise and work together to develop next-generation lithium-ion batteries using NTO to be produced(*2) in the spring of 2025 and promote activities aimed at their global sales.
The demonstration experiment, which has just begun, uses an electric bus developed by Volkswagen Truck & Bus (*3), a pioneer in the development and production of electric trucks in Latin America. Through this demonstration experiment, the three companies will collect data on the characteristics of next-generation lithium-ion batteries using NTO and the operation of vehicles and conduct necessary adjustments for commercialization.
NTO is a material that has twice the theoretical volume capacity density compared to graphite, which is commonly used as the negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries. In June 2018, the three companies signed a joint development contract for a lithium-ion battery negative electrode material using NTO and developed a prototype cell. They subsequently signed a joint development contract for commercialization in September 2021 and have been collaborating further mainly toward the application to commercial electric vehicles to establish mass-production processes and early market introduction. The three companies also signed a joint sales agreement in August 2023 and have been promoting supply chain building and business and marketing activities. In May 2024, they agreed to strengthen the supply chain and promote business development with the participation of government officials from both Brazil and Japan.
Niobium (Nb) is a metallic element mainly used as an additive for high-strength steel, stainless steel, and other high-quality steel raw materials, and is essential for lightening and strengthening automotive steel. CBMM has the world's largest production and sales volume in the niobium market, and has high technical capabilities and a product development program. Sojitz is one of the shareholders of CBMM and has been working to establish a stable supply of raw materials and develop applications as its general agent for the Japanese market. Toshiba has been leading the development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, "SCiBTM Nb," which use NTO, using the niobium raw materials provided by CBMM and Sojitz (*4).

*1 As of June 20, 2024. As researched by Toshiba Corporation, Sojitz Corporation, and CBMM.
*2 Toshiba Corporation plans to commercialize it as next-generation lithium-ion battery "SCiBTM Nb."
*3 Volkswagen Truck & Bus is a subsidiary of Traton SE, a member of the Volkswagen Group. Traton SE is a commercial vehicle manufacturer that includes Volkswagen Truck & Bus, Scania, MAN, and Navistar.
*4 SCiBTM Nb introduction and inquiry site:https://www.global.toshiba/jp/products-solutions/battery/scib/next/nb.html
*Trademark of Toshiba Corporation.
*This release was announced on June 19, Brazil time.

Contact from the press:
Toshiba Corporation
Corporate Communication Department, Broadcasting Communication Room
03-3457-2100
Sojitz Corporation
Public Relations Department.
03-6871-3404