Automotive Lithium-ion Batteries: Current Status and Future Perspectives

In the world of hybrid and EV vehicles, lithium ion battery pack are nothing new. They’re in many of the battery-powered electric vehicles currently on the market, like our long-term Mitsubishi I, and do not draw any unnecessary attention to themselves.

And while we all know they work fine as motor batteries in EVs, there are some compromises you will have to form if you opt to use a currently available aftermarket lithium ion battery pack as a starter battery for your regular car.

The operation of an automotive lithium-ion battery

The principle behind the lithium-ion battery is to circulate electrons by creating a difference in potential between two electrodes, one negative and therefore the other positive, that’s immersed during a conductive ionic liquid called the electrolyte. When the battery is powering a tool, the electrons accumulated within the negative electrode are released via an external circuit to visit the positive electrode: this is often the discharging phase. Conversely, when the battery is charging, the energy supplied by the charger sends the electrons back from the positive electrode to the negative.

The different battery types vary by ion types, electrode materials, and therefore the associated electrolytes. The 12-volt lead-acid accumulator that has traditionally been wont to power the starter of a combustion-engine vehicle, for instance, relies on an electrolyte containing lead ions and electrodes that are lead-based. As for the lithium ion battery pack, it uses lithium ions (Li+): hence the name given to the present technology.

A lithium ion battery pack like the one inside a car just like the ZOE is meant as an assembly of individual battery units (cells), connected to every other and monitored by a fanatical electronic circuit. the number of cells, the dimensions of every cell and therefore the way during which they’re arranged determine both the voltage delivered by the battery and its capacity, meaning the quantity of electricity it’s ready to store. this is often generally stated in watt-hours (Wh), or in kilowatt-hours (kWh) within the automotive industry.

First off, the advantages: lithium ion battery pack are lighter, can store a charge longer, and may withstand charge/discharge cycles better than a lead-acid accumulator. The ratio of the utmost safe output current possible to the rated capacity of the battery is far higher during a lithium ion battery pack; therefore, you would like less “rated amps” to accomplish an equivalent amount of labor. In other words, they will dump or absorb huge amounts of current in reference to their rating.

Disadvantages: Their output drops much faster than lead-acid batteries because the temperature goes down. If not properly charged, they are much more vulnerable to individual cell failures. Unless they’re properly constructed with built-in charge circuitry, we actually can’t consider them plug-and-play compatible with lead-acid batteries. And last, there’s the worth, the maximum amount as $1700 for an OE application, versus maybe $120 for a top-line Sears DieHard.

High capacity Lithium-ion battery during a lightweight, compact design

Lithium-ion batteries have higher energy densities than lead-acid batteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries, so it’s possible to form the battery size smaller than others while retaining an equivalent storage capacity.

BSLBATT’s Lithium-ion battery technology uses materials that allow a better density of lithium ions to be stored. This leads to a rise in travel distance.

System mechanism

BSLBATT’s lithium ion battery pack realizes high energy density and reliability by adopting Ni-Co-Mn positive electrode material and laminated-structure cells.

The Ni-Co-Mn positive electrode material features a layered structure, increasing battery storage capability by allowing many lithium ions to be stored. Laminated-structure battery cells have a high level of cooling performance and an easy structure, saving space and reducing the general size of the battery pack. thanks to its high durability and reliability, the battery capacity warranty guarantees 160,000 km or 8 years.

In the first BSAF (equipped with a 24 kWh battery pack), one battery module was constructed with a 4-cell configuration, with a complete of 24 modules on-board the vehicle. within the second generation BSAF (equipped with a 40 kWh battery pack), each battery module is made with an 8-cell configuration as standard, increasing filling efficiency. This new battery pack configuration retained storage capacity and reliability.

So what does one do if you’ve got a weekend fun car or a car that rarely sees the track? you’ll run your regular lead-acid accumulator during the week, then switch to a lithium battery for more recreational drives. Cheaper lithium batteries don’t offer low-voltage cut-off or proper chemistry, so buyer beware. When you’re back home, swap back to your lead-acid unit.

If the load and shelf-sitting power are your biggest priorities, and you’re willing to either buy a totally sorted lithium battery or become proficient at battery-swapping, the present crop of aftermarket batteries is for you. If you’d rather have a more reliable and permanent solution, you will have to buy it. As of now, integrated cell monitoring, chemistry designed to be tolerant of production car charge cycles or built-in charge regulators designed to be used with lithium chemistry don’t come cheaply.