Types of EV Batteries
Electric vehicle adoption will continue to expand as innovative new battery technologies, currently in development, come onto the market.
Growing availability of electric vehicles (EVs) is enabled by the batteries that keep them moving. Over the past 10 years, battery costs have decreased dramatically while performance has improved. Thanks to these advancements, some automakers can offer EVs with over 500 miles of range.
EVs typically have large battery packs along the underside of the vehicle. Each pack is composed of many interconnected cells. The packs are designed to provide high power output and optimize charging performance. In today’s EVs, the chemistry of these cells is nearly always a variant of lithium-ion, which is also found in many modern technologies like smartphones and laptop computers.
Lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries provide a relatively higher EV range than most other batteries because they can store large amounts of energy in a small space. They last a long time and perform well in most conditions.
Lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistries are the most common lithium-ion batteries used in EVs, but lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are gaining in popularity due to their lower cost and reduced use of cobalt. (Cobalt is a relatively expensive mineral, the mining of which has been criticized for human rights concerns.)
There are different best practices for long-term battery health depending on the specific lithium-ion chemistry of your EV’s battery. We strongly recommend consulting your owner’s manual for direction on charging routines to get the most out of your vehicle.
Developing battery technologies
Researchers continue to refine lithium-ion battery chemistries to lower costs and improve safety and performance.
New battery technologies are also being developed. These new batteries promise advancements in range, safety, cold weather performance, charging, and durability. Solid state batteries are one of the most promising options. They replace the liquid found in lithium-ion batteries with a solid or gel material that adds many beneficial performance characteristics. Samples are now getting delivered to automakers for testing, with production anticipated to ramp up in the next 2-5 years.
Other battery technologies like sodium ion, lithium sulfur, zinc air, and graphene are in the earlier stages of development. The resources below have more details on what might be coming in future EVs.
