What are the five types of lithium batteries used in new energy vehicles?
2 Answers
New energy vehicles adopt the following five types of lithium batteries: Lead-acid battery: As a relatively mature technology, lead-acid batteries remain the only mass-produced batteries for electric vehicles due to their lower cost and high-rate discharge capability. Nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries: Although they perform better than lead-acid batteries, they contain heavy metals and can cause environmental pollution when discarded after use. Lithium-ion battery: Features include high working voltage, large specific energy (three times that of nickel-metal hydride batteries), compact size, lightweight, long cycle life, low self-discharge rate, no memory effect, and pollution-free. Lithium iron phosphate battery: Lithium iron phosphate batteries are also a type of lithium-ion battery. Although their specific energy is less than half that of lithium cobalt oxide batteries, they offer high safety, up to 2000 cycles, stable discharge, and low cost, making them a new choice for vehicle power. Fuel cell: Simply put, a fuel cell is a power generation device that directly converts the chemical energy present in fuel and oxidants into electrical energy.
There are several types of lithium batteries used in new energy vehicles. Let me talk about the five most common ones. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries are the most common—safe and durable, used in BYD vehicles. Then there are Ternary Lithium batteries, which contain nickel, manganese, and cobalt, offering long range but sensitive to heat, used by Tesla. Next is Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) batteries, high energy density but shorter lifespan, seen in some older models. Lithium Titanate (LTO) batteries are exceptionally durable and support fast charging, mostly used in buses. Lastly, Solid-State batteries are still in development, with high energy density, likely the future mainstream for EVs. Each battery type has its pros and cons—choose based on usage scenarios. For frequent long trips, Ternary Lithium is better, while LFP suits urban commutes. Battery tech keeps advancing, and new models' range improves year by year.