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TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today announced that its SCiB™ battery has been selected by Shimano Inc. (OSAKA:7309), the world's largest manufacturer of bicycle parts, for the power battery module of a battery system for electric bicycles that Shimano supplies as a component to bicycle manufacturers. The SCiB™ is Toshiba's breakthrough rechargeable lithium-ion battery that combines long life and rapid recharging with high-level regenerative charging, characteristics that make it highly suited to application in electric bicycles.

The battery module will integrate SCiB™ cells and a battery management system that optimizes use of the SCiB™'s characteristics, monitors energy use during operation and charging and protects the cells. It also supports regenerative charging of electricity from energy generated while braking or coasting downhill. High mileage will be achieved by combining the SCiB™'s rapid recharging and excellent regenerative capability with Shimano's motor and inverter system with highly efficient regenerative function. The SCiB™'s long life will also promote reduction in waste from battery replacement and contribute to a society that saves energy and reduces environmental loads.

The battery module will be installed in a new product that Shimano is scheduled to supply to the European electric bicycle market by the end of this year. Toshiba hopes to increase battery supply as Shimano promotes and develops the battery system business.

Toshiba positions the SCiB™ as a new business with promising long term growth potential. It is also a business that is already showing its versatility, as the SCiB™ has been selected for an electric vehicle, an electric motorcycle, and as part of the power storage in an experimental microgrid system. Toshiba will seek to establish an SCiB™ operating structure able to quickly respond to market growth and is promoting sales and marketing activities to win orders. The company expects to achieve an annual business scale of about 200 billion yen by fiscal year 2015. For more about SCiB™, please visit Toshiba's website: http://www.scib.jp/en/