What type of batteries are used in new energy vehicles?
2 Answers
Here is information about the batteries used in new energy vehicles: 1. Lead-acid batteries: Lead-acid batteries use lead oxide as the positive plate, sponge lead as the negative plate, and a sulfuric acid aqueous solution as the electrolyte. 2. Alkaline batteries: Alkaline batteries are composed of nickel-based materials and alkaline solution electrolytes, mainly including nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and nickel-metal hydride batteries. Among these, nickel-metal hydride batteries have higher specific energy and are environmentally friendly compared to nickel-cadmium and nickel-zinc batteries. 3. Lithium-ion batteries: Lithium-ion batteries can be divided into two types: lithium-ion batteries and lithium polymer batteries. The cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries mainly include lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium iron phosphate, etc., while the anode materials mainly include graphite, lithium titanate, etc.
I see that new energy vehicles mainly use lithium-ion batteries because they have high energy density, allowing for longer range and faster charging. For example, my car can travel over 400 kilometers on a full charge, and for daily commuting, I don’t need to charge it for a whole week. It’s much lighter than older battery types, saving space and making the car’s layout more flexible. However, there are downsides—they tend to degrade faster in high temperatures, so I usually avoid charging under direct sunlight. Additionally, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are gaining popularity due to better safety and lower fire risk, though they are slightly heavier, which affects range slightly. In the future, solid-state batteries are expected to be safer and more eco-friendly, but widespread adoption will take time. For daily maintenance, avoid deep discharging—charging below 20% can damage battery life, so it’s best to keep the charge level between 40% and 80%.
