Types of Batteries Used for Electric Vehicles

Types of Batteries Used for Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles have become a buzz now. The fact that the world is now facing the wrath of rising pollution level and fuel prices, battery electric vehicles have come as a great alternative. One of the reasons why battery-electric cars have become popular is because they have zero-emission, which means no harmful emissions into the environment, making it one of the best choices. Furthermore, BEVs or Battery Electric Vehicle runs on electricity, which can be derived from renewable sources of energy.

BEVs are no more a theoretical concept or pilot project; we have some big names in the automotive industry like Nissan, Telsa, MG, who have come up with their elective car version. As mentioned above, BEV is driven by a large electric motor, which is powered by a rechargeable battery system. There are two popular types of battery which are being used in most of the electric vehicles :

Lead Acid Batteries and Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries

Lithium-Ion Battery

Lead Acid Battery and Nickel Ion Batteries have long been used and work on mature technology. Initially, these batteries were used in EVs like General Motor EV1. Lead-acid batteries are considered to be a bit obsolete, and they have also been used in conventional petroleum vehicles. They have a poor specific energy of 34 Wh/kg.

On the other hand, the nickel ion batteries are superior to the lead-acid batteries because they have double the specific energy, 68 Wh/kg. Thus making NiMH batteries to be lighter and have the lesser cost of energy density as compared to lead-acid batteries. But here it becomes necessary to mention that the Lithium-Ion batteries have certain drawbacks like lower charging efficiencies and self-discharge issues, which makes them a not so popular option. And this self0dishacges gets exacerbated when the batteries are at a high temperature. These drawbacks opened the gateway for the surge of new batteries, which can support electric vehicles in all kinds of environments without compromising the energy efficiency and other factors.

Lithium-Ion Batteries- These are the modern battery which is widely being used in electric vehicles. There are different kind of Lithium-Ion batteries, but the one which offers longevity is used in EVs. Besides, Lithium-ion batteries have a higher specific energy of 140 Wh/kg and energy density, thus making it an excellent choice for an electric vehicle. These batteries can also retain energy for a longer time, and they have a self-discharge rate of 5% per month. But, you must know that these batteries are expensive as compared to Nickle Ion and Lead Acid Batteries.

Points of caution- Although Lithium-Ion has many plus points, we cannot undermine the fact that they have certain drawbacks as well. Thes batteries suffer from overcharging and overheating, which can prove fatal. However, there has been the latest development in improving the same.

Final Thoughts – Electric vehicles have come as a significant change in the automotive industry. Hence, there is a lot of curiosity amongst the budding engineers to pursue a course in this field. Whether it is about developing a safety batter to use or work on preparing the charging station or designing EVs, there is a greater demand for experts in this field. Institutes like SICCES Pvt. Ltd. are offering a great learning platform along with hands-on experience to the aspirants. If you, too, wish to learn more about EVs and it’s designing and assembly, it’s the right time to enroll for this program.