Abstract: A charging system includes a power transfer device and a rapid charging battery. The power transfer device includes a first power transfer unit being compatible with a first charging standard specifying that the rapid charging battery is to be charged at a predetermined current value. The rapid charging battery includes a first charging unit being compatible with the first charging standard, and a second power transfer unit being compatible with a second charging standard specifying that power is to be transferred at a predetermined current value that is lower than the predetermined current value specified by the first charging standard.

Abstract: A battery module (100) includes: a plurality of cells (10) connected in parallel; and a holder (20) configured to house the cells (10). In each of the cells (10), an electrode group (4) including a positive electrode (1), a negative electrode (2), and a separator (3) is housed in a cell case (7). The cell case (7) is electrically connected to one of the positive electrode (1) or the negative electrode (2) to have a first electric potential. The holder (20) includes a plurality of housings (21) each housing an associated one of the cells (10), and has a second electric potential opposite to the first electric potential. The cells (10) are housed in the housings (21) with the cell cases (7) being insulated from the holder (20).

Abstract: Each battery module 100 includes a holder 20 accommodating cells 10 and made of a thermal conductive material, and a rectangular solid case 30 accommodating the holder 20. The holder 20 includes containers 21, in each of which one of the cells 10 is accommodated. The case 30 has a first side surface 30a and a second side surface 30b, which are parallel to side surfaces of the containers 21 of the holder 20, and face each other. The battery pack 200 is formed by stacking the battery modules 100 in a direction that the first side surface 30a and the second side surface 30b overlap each other. Spacers 50a and 50b, each of which has a predetermined width, are provided between adjacent two of the battery modules 100, at both ends of the first and second side surfaces 30a and 30b of the case 30 in a width direction, along a direction perpendicular to the width direction. The spacers 50a and 50b form a gap 60, through which a cooling medium flows, between the first and second side surfaces 30a and 30b.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a negative electrode capable of improving the large current characteristics of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery while maintaining the battery capacity. A negative electrode includes a sheet-like current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer disposed on a surface of the current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes graphite particles and ceramic particles interposed between the graphite particles. The mean particle size of the ceramic particles is smaller than that of the graphite particles. In an X-ray diffraction pattern of the negative electrode mixture layer, the ratio R of the intensity I110 of a peak attributed to a (110) plane of the graphite particles to the intensity I002 of a peak attributed to a (002) plane, i.e., the ratio I110/I002, is 0.05 or more. The negative electrode mixture layer has a density of 1.1 to 1.8 g/cm3.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the invention includes: a sheet-like current collector with a plurality of through-holes; a carbon layer formed on a surface of and in the through holes of the current collector; and a mixture layer formed on a surface of the carbon layer. The mixture layer includes an active material and a conductive agent, and the active material includes a lithium-titanium containing composite oxide with a spinel crystal structure. The current collector has a void ratio of 20 to 60%. The carbon layer has an average density of 0.05 to 0.4 g/cm3. The use of this negative electrode can provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with good rate characteristics and cycle characteristics.

Abstract: A current collector includes a metal foil with a plurality of through-holes formed therein. The metal foil is divided into two regions of: a distant region distant from a connection portion to be connected to an external terminal; and a close region being close to the connection portion and having the same area as the distant region. The open area ratio of the distant region of the metal foil is larger than that of the close region. Thus, the electrical resistance of the close region is smaller than that of the distant region. Therefore, production of heat in the close region due to passage of current can be suppressed.