ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) will begin proposing solutions utilizing remote degradation diagnostic services for automotive lithium-ion batteries which is developed by Hitachi High-Tech Corporation (hereinafter "Hitachi High-Tech") .

ITOCHU has automobile fleet management (*) knowledge and Hitachi High-Tech developed technology to remotely determine the status of degradation in batteries, and together, they have tested a service to remotely diagnose the state of degradation (State of health, hereinafter “SOH”) in lithium-ion batteries in several thousand electric vehicles ("EVs"). Through this test, it is now possible to estimate accurate SOH both by battery pack and by battery cell. Both companies verified that current and chronological SOH can be monitored by collecting and analyzing battery data and operational data from EVs in operation, and that it is possible to unitedly, effectively watch and manage multiple EVs.

Based on the agreement between both companies through this experiment, ITOCHU will begin proposing solutions utilizing this service to automobile manufacturers, leasing and financial companies through ITOCHU's domestic and global networks.

Achieving stable and efficient operations of EVs has become crucial for the spread of EVs as demand for the electrification of automobiles grows daily towards the realization of a global carbon neutral society. It was previously necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to run a degradation diagnosis, but it has become possible to remotely determine the status of battery degradation through this service, which offers an environment where battery life can be maximized. It also enhances an environment of secondary use of retired batteries by watching their on-vehicle records. We believe that this service will work to solve problems in the full-scale spread of EVs in Japan and abroad especially for fleet EVs, as there is greater concern about battery degradation due to long mileage while stable performance and high utilization are sought after for such use.

Both companies are also moving forward with the development of EV charging simulation service to propose charging speeds and times to allow for optimal electricity costs while ensuring utilization of EVs for customers who consider switching from internal combustion automobiles to EVs. ITOCHU plans to offer this service combining with the remote degradation diagnostic service for automotive batteries.

ITOCHU included the contribution to SDGs and strengthening of SDG initiatives in the Basic Policies in its medium-term management plan. Through these actions, ITOCHU will help decarbonize the mobility field and aims to resolve issues with a view towards the realization of a sustainable society.