Abstract: A reprogramming tool includes a connector that is to be detachably coupled to a diagnostic connector with which a vehicle is provided. The diagnostic connector includes a vehicle-side first terminal and a vehicle-side second terminal. The vehicle-side first terminal is always coupled to a battery of the vehicle. The vehicle-side second terminal is coupled to the battery in a case where a power state of the vehicle is a state in which an ignition is ON. The connector of the reprogramming tool includes a tool-side first terminal and a tool-side second terminal. The tool-side first terminal is to be coupled to the vehicle-side first terminal of the diagnostic connector. The tool-side second terminal is to be coupled to the vehicle-side second terminal of the diagnostic connector. The reprogramming tool includes a short-circuit mechanism configured to short-circuit the tool-side first terminal and the tool-side second terminal.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a low-voltage battery, a high-voltage battery having a voltage higher than that of the low-voltage battery; an output detector that detects an output of the low-voltage battery; a collision detector that detects a vehicle collision, an information recorder to which the low-voltage battery is connected as a power supply and which records collision information from the collision detector; a power supply relay unit that is provided between the high-voltage battery and the information recorder and switched between an opened state in which the high-voltage battery and the information recorder are separated and a closed state in which that are connected; and a controller that switches the power supply relay unit from the opened state to the closed state in the case when a vehicle collision a reduction in the output of the low-voltage battery are detected.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a low-voltage battery, a high-voltage battery having a voltage higher than that of the low-voltage battery; an output detector that detects an output of the low-voltage battery; a collision detector that detects a vehicle collision, an information recorder to which the low-voltage battery is connected as a power supply and which records collision information from the collision detector; a power supply relay unit that is provided between the high-voltage battery and the information recorder and switched between an opened state in which the high-voltage battery and the information recorder are separated and a closed state in which that are connected; and a controller that switches the power supply relay unit from the opened state to the closed state in the case when a vehicle collision a reduction in the output of the low-voltage battery are detected.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes: a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode; a separator layer intervening between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an alkaline electrolyte. The separator layer includes a water-absorbing polymer, a water repellent, an alkaline aqueous solution, and a scavenger capable of trapping an element which leaches from the negative electrode into the alkaline aqueous solution. The scavenger comprises an oxygen-containing metal compound. The negative electrode is a hydrogen storage alloy electrode, a cadmium electrode or a zinc electrode. The water-absorbing polymer comprises a cross-linked polymer having at least one kind of monomer unit selected from the group consisting of an acrylate unit and a methacrylate unit.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte and at least one electrode plate, the electrochemical device having a metal part constituting the electrode plate or being connected to the electrode plate; the electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent dissolving the solute; the metal part having an insulating oxide layer for preventing the electrolyte from creeping on at least part of the surface of the metal part.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte and at least one electrode plate, the electrochemical device having a metal part constituting the electrode plate or being connected to the electrode plate; the electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent dissolving the solute; the metal part having an insulating oxide layer for preventing the electrolyte from creeping on at least part of the surface of the metal part.

Abstract: A method for separating a metal-resin joint including the steps of: (1) immersing an article including a metal-resin joint with a counter electrode in an alkaline solution; and (2) applying a voltage over a certain time period between the metal portion of the joint and the counter electrode such that the potential of the metal portion is lower than that of a standard hydrogen electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte and at least one electrode plate, the electrochemical device having a metal part constituting the electrode plate or being connected to the electrode plate; the electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent dissolving the solute; the metal part having an insulating oxide layer for preventing the electrolyte from creeping on at least part of the surface of the metal part.

Abstract: A particulate positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery comprising: (a) solid solution nickel hydroxide particles containing at least magnesium and (b) a coating layer comprising cobalt oxide being formed on the surface of the solid solution nickel hydroxide particles. The amount of magnesium contained in the solid solution nickel hydroxide particles (a) is not smaller than 2 mol % and not larger than 15 mol % of the total amount of metal elements contained in the solid solution nickel hydroxide particles (a). BET specific surface area of the solid solution nickel hydroxide particles (a) measured by nitrogen gas adsorption is not smaller than 5 m2/g and not larger than 15 m2/g. The coating layer (b) further comprises at least one element Xs selected from the group consisting of yttrium, ytterbium, lutetium, titanium and calcium.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alkaline storage battery comprising: a positive electrode comprising nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte layer comprises a water absorbent polymer and an aqueous alkaline solution. The water absorbent polymer is obtained by saponification of a copolymer comprising 100 parts by weight of monomer (A) and 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of monomer (B). The monomer (A) has at least one group capable of being converted to a carboxyl group by saponification and has one polymerizable double bond, and the monomer (B) has two or more polymerizable double bonds.

Abstract: Electrode plate assemblies forming independent elements for electromotive force each contained in a partition member are series-connected and accommodated in a battery case. Each element is constructed as a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery cell and has an electromotive force of predetermined voltage, and so the battery connected in series has an output voltage and can be applied to general-purpose uses.

Abstract: An alkaline zinc secondary battery in accordance with the present invention comprises a separator layer comprising a gel electrolyte comprising a water absorbent polymer and an alkaline aqueous solution, disposed between a negative electrode comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc oxide and a positive electrode. Because the separator layer is in a gel form, transfer of zinc ions is limited. Thereby, deformation of the negative electrode and generation of dendrite due to charge and discharge of the battery are substantially inhibited. Moreover, since impurity ions such as nitrate ions become less prone to move, self-discharge of the battery is also inhibited.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte and at least one electrode plate, the electrochemical device having a metal part constituting the electrode plate or being connected to the electrode plate; the electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent dissolving the solute; the metal part having an insulating oxide layer for preventing the electrolyte from creeping on at least part of the surface of the metal part.

Abstract: In order to obtain a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a long cycle life and a low self-discharge rate, in a nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising: a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode containing a hydrogen storage alloy; a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and an electrolyte comprising an aqueous alkaline solution, a water absorbent polymer, a water repellent and an aqueous alkaline solution are added into the separator. This battery can be produced with low cost.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte and at least one electrode plate, the electrochemical device having a metal part constituting the electrode plate or being connected to the electrode plate; the electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent dissolving the solute; the metal part having an insulating oxide layer for preventing the electrolyte from creeping on at least part of the surface of the metal part.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes: a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode; a separator layer intervening between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an alkaline electrolyte. The separator layer includes a water-absorbing polymer, a water repellent, an alkaline aqueous solution, and a scavenger capable of trapping an element which leaches from the negative electrode into the alkaline aqueous solution. The scavenger comprises an oxygen-containing metal compound. The negative electrode is a hydrogen storage alloy electrode, a cadmium electrode or a zinc electrode. The water-absorbing polymer comprises a cross-linked polymer having at least one kind of monomer unit selected from the group consisting of an acrylate unit and a methacrylate unit.

Abstract: A method for separating a metal-resin joint including the steps of: (1) immersing an article including a metal-resin joint with a counter electrode in an alkaline solution; and (2) applying a voltage over a certain time period between the metal portion of the joint and the counter electrode such that the potential of the metal portion is lower than that of a standard hydrogen electrode.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes: [a] a shallow case having an opening and a bottom; [b] a sealing plate covering the opening of the case; [c] a first electrode adjacent to an inner face of the bottom of the case; [d] a second electrode adjacent to an inner face of the sealing plate; [e] a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; [f] an alkaline electrolyte; and [g] at least one current collector plate selected from the group consisting of (g1) a conductive current collector plate joined to the inner face of the bottom of the case and forming a gas transfer path distributed two-dimensionally between the inner face of the bottom of the case and the first electrode and (g2) a conductive current collector plate joined to the inner face of the sealing plate and forming a gas transfer path distributed two-dimensionally between the inner face of the sealing plate and the second electrode.

Abstract: The paste type positive electrode of the present invention contains a first active material and a second active material. The first active material comprises X parts by weight of particulate nickel hydroxide with aX/100 parts by weight of cobalt oxyhydroxide carried thereon. The second active material comprises Y parts by weight of particulate nickel oxyhydroxide, of which an oxidation number of nickel is ?, with bY/100 parts by weight of cobalt oxyhydroxide carried thereon. Here, all the following relations are satisfied: (1) 2.5??<3.0, (2) 0.01?(aX/100+bY/100)/(X+Y)?0.20, (3) 0<b?a?10 or 0=b<a?10, and (4) 2.1?(2X+?Y)/(X+Y)<2.2.

Abstract: Electrode plate assemblies (41a, 41b, 41c) forming independent elements for electromotive force each contained in a partition member (46) are series-connected and accommodated in a battery case (45). Each element is constructed as a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery cell and has an electromotive force of 1.2V, and so the battery connected in series has an output voltage of 3.6V and can be applied to general purpose uses.