What Type of Batteries Are Used in Electric Vehicles?
2 Answers
Currently, the batteries used in electric vehicles are: ternary lithium batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, and nickel-metal hydride batteries. Among them, nickel-metal hydride batteries are the most stable, lithium iron phosphate batteries are the safest, and ternary lithium batteries have the highest capacity. Ternary Lithium Battery: Excels in collaboration, offering the highest capacity for the same weight. However, its tightly packed components can lead to higher temperatures, making stringent cooling requirements essential. For safety, each battery cell must have a protective device. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery: Favored by most automakers. Although it has lower capacity per weight compared to ternary lithium batteries, it boasts excellent thermal stability, is less prone to overheating, and requires lower-cost cooling components. Additionally, it offers advantages such as high energy density, compact size, long battery life, and good safety. Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery: Typically used in hybrid vehicles, its performance is inferior to lithium batteries. This battery type has good memory properties, clearly remembering overcharging and overdischarging. Therefore, nickel-metal hydride batteries have strict requirements for charging and discharging times, necessitating maintaining the charge within a fixed range. Hydrogen Fuel Cell: Features high energy conversion efficiency, zero pollution, and long lifespan, but comes at a high cost. Moreover, large-scale transportation or storage poses significant challenges, with high risk factors and considerable safety hazards. As the power source of electric vehicles, batteries have long been regarded as a key technological milestone in the development of EVs and a major bottleneck restricting their progress. Their performance directly affects the vehicle's driving range. The driving range is directly related to the three-electric system (battery, motor, and electronic control) of an electric vehicle. Battery System: The capacity of the power battery directly determines the driving range. Additionally, excessively high or low temperatures in the battery system can also impact the range. Under the same battery capacity, more stable battery temperatures better ensure the driving range.
I usually enjoy tinkering with cars. The batteries used in electric vehicles are primarily lithium-ion batteries, which is crucial. To be more specific, the common types are ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries. The former has higher energy density but slightly poorer heat resistance, while the latter is safer and more durable. Many automakers are now shifting towards lithium iron phosphate. The core function of a battery is to store and discharge electricity, achieved through the movement of lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes. Unlike small smartphone batteries, car batteries have enormous capacities, often storing dozens of kilowatt-hours. When charging, it's important not to always drain the battery completely before recharging; shallow charging and discharging can extend its lifespan. Faster battery drain in winter is due to low temperatures affecting chemical reactions, while in summer, overheating must be prevented. Replacing a battery can be costly, so choosing a reputable brand when purchasing a car is essential. For regular maintenance, avoiding extreme charging behaviors is sufficient.