Delivered on May 26, 2025
EnerCera - Ultra-thin, safe batteries that expand the possibilities of sensing devices by NGK Insulators, Ltd.
Masami Tatsuno (Director of Battery Applications, DS Business Development, NV Promotion Headquarters)
Chiori Suzuki (Manager, same)
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
"Location Data Solutions Catalog" is a tool that covers the location data business.
https://www.lbmajapan.com/catalog
Devices of the future will be this thin! NGK Insulators' ultra-thin battery, Enerthera, is just 0.45mm thick.
This innovative battery, which was developed with the aim of being installed in credit cards, has led to applications that go beyond imagination.
In the video, we hear about the possibilities opened up by the incredible thinness, lightness, and flexibility of the battery, the future of "constant charging" achieved through cooperation with solar power and WPT (wireless power transmission), and the evolution of next-generation IoT devices that may dramatically change our lives.
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A 0.45mm innovation! The future of location information and IoT pioneered by NGK Insulators' ultra-thin battery "EnerCera"
In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become more and more common, with everything being connected to the Internet, and the need to utilize location information data is also rapidly increasing. However, battery issues are always a problem when trying to miniaturize IoT devices and make them last longer.
In the midst of this, the ultra-thin lithium-ion secondary battery "EnerCera" developed by NGK Insulators Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as NGK Insulators) is attracting attention as it brings new possibilities to location information businesses and IoT device development. In the recently released podcast "Location Weekly Japan," Tatsuno and Suzuki from the company spoke about the appeal and future of EnerCera.
In this article, we will introduce the potential of EnerCera based on the content of that article.
An astonishing thinness of 0.45mm! The background of the birth of "EnerCera"
The biggest feature of "EnerCera" is, without a doubt, its astonishing thinness. The thinnest type is only 0.45mm thick, making it suitable for use in devices that require small size and light weight.
The impetus for the development of this battery was the use of batteries in credit cards. To achieve this goal, the company established a technology to make the battery as thin as possible, even down to the electrodes inside the battery, and to precisely manufacture it. It took more than three years from basic research in the lab to the launch of the actual production line to bring the product to market.
Enercella's three major features: thinness, safety, and charging performance
The reason Enercella is attracting attention is not just because it is thin.
①Overwhelming thinness and flexibility: In addition to being 0.45mm thin, it is lightweight and can be bent. This makes it suitable for use in devices with shapes that were not possible with conventional batteries, and for wearable devices where comfort is important.
②Peace of mind that it will not burn: Although it is a lithium-ion battery, it boasts a high level of safety, as it will not catch fire even if it is driven with a nail or bent strongly. This is because ceramics are used as the main component, which is a great advantage in wearable devices and applications where safety is particularly important.
③Supports constant charging: Enercella is highly compatible with energy harvesting technologies such as solar cells and WPT (Wireless Power Transfer). Since the battery does not deteriorate even when used while constantly charging, it is ideal for IoT sensors that require maintenance-free and stable operation for a long period of time.
-Expanding use cases: From medical to logistics and wearables
Enercella has already begun to be used in various fields to take advantage of its characteristics.
-Medical/Healthcare: Small medical devices and healthcare sensors worn on the body.
-Logistics/Tracking: Forklift position trackers combined with solar panels. Demonstration experiments are also being conducted to grasp the movement of forklifts in the market.
-Quality control: Tags that are attached to bottles during the transportation of high-end wine and record temperature and humidity. This leads to proof that quality is being maintained.
-Wearable devices: Due to its thinness, lightness, safety, and bendability, it is being adopted not only in smart watches and activity meters, but also in wearable devices that are more closely related to daily life.
Solving the challenges of location information business! Light also solves the beacon battery problem
Beacons are widely used in location information solutions, but one of the major challenges in their widespread use has been batteries. Depending on the frequency of transmission, the battery runs out in a few months to a year, and there have been many cases where the effort and cost of replacing it has been a barrier to adoption.
Enercella can be a powerful solution to this problem. By combining it with sunlight, indoor light, and even WPT, you can build a system that continues to transmit beacons while constantly charging. This significantly reduces the effort of battery replacement and enables the provision of stable location information services over a wider area and for a longer period of time.
Demonstrating its true value with WPT! The future of IoT as envisioned by "Enercella"
Mr. Tatsuno of NGK Insulators says that if WPT technology becomes widespread in the future, the value of small, thin batteries like Enercella will increase even more. If an environment where power is supplied to space like Wi-Fi is realized, there will be no need for the device itself to have a large battery capacity, and it will be possible to keep logging and sensing at all times with batteries like Enercella.
As a result, various things that were previously difficult to install batteries in will become IoT devices, and the future in which everything around us is connected to the network will become a reality. For example, Enerthera could be embedded in a tag-like form on clothing to sense the wearer's condition or give it some other function.
In addition, development of items equipped with Enerthera is also underway in the entertainment field, and it is possible that they will be available in the world around the summer of 2025. This is expected to further increase awareness of Enerthera.
To the location information industry: a message from NGK
Finally, the two from NGK sent a passionate message to companies with location information-related technology, saying, "We hope that you will take advantage of Enerthera's thinness and characteristics and combine it with your own technology to create new devices and solutions that have never been seen before. We hope to work together with you to expand your imagination and develop them."
◾️Summary
NGK's ultra-thin battery "Enerthera" has the potential to bring about a major revolution in location information business and IoT device development due to its incredible thinness, high safety, and excellent charging characteristics. In particular, solving the beacon battery problem and realizing a maintenance-free system through collaboration with WPT will be attractive options for many companies.
We will be keeping a close eye on Enerthera to see what new value it will create in the future.