Provided is an energy storage apparatus capable of appropriately controlling use of a silicon material in normal times and achieving long life, and a method of using the energy storage apparatus. One aspect of the present invention is an energy storage apparatus that includes an energy storage device and a measuring section for measuring an internal pressure change rate of the energy storage device, the energy storage device having a negative electrode that contains a carbon material and a silicon material. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of using the energy storage apparatus that includes performing discharge while the internal pressure change rate of the energy storage device is measured.

Controller (12) of power storage pack (10) communicates with controller (32) of electric moving body (30) in a state where power storage pack (10) is mounted to the electric moving body. Communication wiring (Lc1) connects a node of power line (Lp1) on power source terminal (Tp) side relative to first switch (RYp) and controller (12) of power storage pack (10). Overvoltage protection circuit (19) turns off second switch (SWc) inserted into communication wiring (Lc1) upon detecting an overvoltage of power line (Lp1) during communication between controller (12) of power storage pack (10) and controller (32) of the electric moving body.

A bipolar capacitor assisted battery includes a bipolar capacitor including a first capacitor, and a second capacitor. The second capacitor is connected in series with the first capacitor. A lithium ion battery is connected in parallel to the bipolar capacitor.

An energy storage device includes: a case including a case body and a lid; and electrode terminals (positive electrode terminal, negative electrode terminal) fixed to the lid. A junction portion for joining the case body and the lid to each other is formed on a surface of the case on an electrode terminal side. The lid includes recessed portions disposed along and adjacent to the junction portion without being disposed between the electrode terminal and the junction portion.

An energy storage device includes: a case including a case body and a lid; and electrode terminals (positive electrode terminal, negative electrode terminal) fixed to the lid. A junction portion for joining the case body and the lid to each other is formed on a surface of the case on an electrode terminal side. The lid includes recessed portions disposed along and adjacent to the junction portion without being disposed between the electrode terminal and the junction portion.

A device for depassivation of an energy storage device having an anode, a cathode and a core with an electrolyte, the device including: a first switch configured to provide a positive input voltage to the anode; a second switch configured to provide a negative input voltage to the anode; and a controller configured to: detect that a first predetermined event related to a buildup of passivation has occurred with regard to the energy storage device; switch between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to the anode at a frequency sufficient to depassivate the anode; discontinue the switching when a second predetermined event related to passivation has occurred.

A rechargeable battery is provided with a pressure release valve and a current interruption mechanism. The current interruption mechanism includes a deformation plate. When the internal pressure of the case reaches an interruption activation pressure, the deformation plate receives the internal pressure and is deformed to break a conducting portion. In the current interruption mechanism, a pressure that is set for maintaining the sealing at the contact portion between the deformation plate and a negative electrode conductor is defined as a sealing portion withstanding pressure, and the pressure that is set for maintaining the shape of the case is defined as a case withstanding pressure. The pressure for activating the pressure release valve is defined as a valve activation pressure. In this case, the sealing portion withstanding pressure and the valve activation pressure are set higher than the interruption activation pressure and lower than the case withstanding pressure.

A method is for producing electrochemical energy storage devices utilizing lithium and for producing materials used in the devices, such that the anode has lithium metal, inorganic solid electrolytes. Anode and cathode components are joined together by pressure and/or temperature utilized in the production. The lithium-metal layer is produced at least partly by a pulsed laser deposition method. The method can utilise various inorganic solid electrolytes produced by different methods and a roll-to-roll method as well as different ways to couple pressure and/or temperature to the component being processed.

In a method for balancing an energy storage system, a capacitance of capacitive storage modules of a series circuit of capacitive storage modules is determined. The capacitive storage modules are connected to a balancing device to allow control of a charge of each of the capacitive storage modules via a flow of current between the balancing device and the capacitive storage modules. For each of the capacitive storage modules a module charge is determined from a voltage of the capacitive storage module and a predefined balancing voltage. A reference charge is determined from the module charges of the capacitive storage modules, and a balancing charge is determined for each of the capacitive storage modules from the reference charge and the module charge of the capacitive storage module. The charge of the capacitive storage modules is controlled by exchanging the balancing charge between the capacitive storage module and the balancing device.

A power storage device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a barrier layer interposed between at least one of the following: between the first electrode and the separator and between the second electrode and the separator, wherein the barrier layer includes a complexing agent and a resin material.