Abstract: A negative electrode active material includes a composition A-B-C containing a first element A which is at least one selected from copper and iron, a second element B which is at least one selected from silicon and tin, and a third element C which is at least one selected from the group consisting of indium, antimony, bismuth, and lead. A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a negative electrode containing the negative electrode active material, a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery has a large discharge capacity and excellent cycle performance.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of safely producing a high quality negative electrode material composed of a mixture of a non-carbon material and a carbon material, a negative electrode using the negative electrode material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte battery using the negative electrode. The high quality negative electrode is produced by pulverizing and classifying each of the non-carbon material and the carbon material in an inert gas atmosphere, and further mixing them to each other in an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A material for a negative electrode capable of preventing change in the volume of an active material occurring when lithium is doped/dedoped to improve resistance against cycle operations. A material for a negative electrode contains a mixture of a non-carbon material and a carbon material, wherein when an assumption is made that the average particle size of the non-carbon material is RM and the average particle size of the carbon material is RC, the ratio RM/RC is not higher than one, and when an assumption is made that the weight of the non-carbon material is WM and the weight of the carbon is WC, the ratio WM/WC is not higher than one or a mixture of a silicon compound and a carbon material, wherein when an assumption is made that the average particle size of the silicon compound is RSi and the average particle size of the carbon material is RC, the ratio RSi/RC is not higher than one.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprising a cathode made from a cathode compound that comprises a manganese oxide or a lithium-manganese composite oxide, a lithium metal anode or an anode comprising lithium or capable of doping and dedoping lithium ions, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, which is characterized in that the cathode compound contains an alkali metal carbonate of being from 0.5 to 20% by weight of the dry cathode compound. Even when used at high temperatures over room temperature for a long period of time, the cell is deteriorated little.

Abstract: A regenerator including a heat accumulating material is disposed on an engine exhaust tube for accumulating heat given by the exhaust gas passing through the exhaust tube. An air distributor unit including an electric fan is arranged to force the air warmed by the heat accumulating material to be fed into the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: An engine starting apparatus for an extremely cold climate has a regenerator which stores heat of exhaust gas during operation of the engine. The regenerator has sufficient heat capacity to maintain the stored heat for at least 10 hours after stopping the engine. Suction gas to start the engine can be heated sufficiently to facilitate starting of the engine. Temperature control device mixes fresh air with air from the regenerator to obtain suitable suction temperature.

Abstract: A system constituted at a relatively large capacity and low output first battery such as a fuel cell, a smaller capacity and higher output second battery, and a current-limiting circuit for restricting the maximum discharge current of the first battery to a predetermined value slightly above the open-circuit voltage of the second battery, which circuit consists of a measuring circuit for measuring the discharge current, a signal generating circuit for providing a reference signal representing the predetermined current, a comparator for the comparison between the reference signal and the measured current and a current flow control circuit operated by the output of the comparator.