What is unique about lithium-ion automotive batteries?

As the core energy storage device of modern electric vehicles, lithium-ion automotive batteries play an important role in promoting the development of the new energy vehicle industry with their unique performance and advantages. So what is so unique about lithium-ion automotive batteries? The following is a detailed analysis from four aspects.

1. High energy density

One of the most important features of lithium-ion automotive batteries is their high energy density. Energy density refers to the amount of energy that can be stored per unit weight or volume. Compared to conventional lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries have a much higher energy density. This means that lithium-ion batteries can store more electrical energy for the same weight or volume, giving you a longer range. This is crucial for electric vehicles as it allows vehicles to travel further on a single charge, reducing the need for frequent recharging and improving the user experience.

2. Long life and low self-discharge

Lithium-ion batteries have a long charge/discharge cycle life, typically more than 1,000 times, and even in some high-performance batteries, the cycle life can exceed 2,000 times. This means that lithium-ion batteries can maintain high performance stability over long periods of use, reducing the frequency of battery replacement and maintenance costs. In addition, lithium-ion batteries have a low self-discharge rate, and even if they are not used for a long time, the loss of battery power is relatively small, which helps to maintain the long-term performance of the battery.

3. Safety and Environment

Although Li-ion batteries generate a certain amount of heat during charging and discharging, the optimisation of their internal structure and the selection of electrolytes have significantly improved the safety of Li-ion batteries. In particular, with the continuous development of battery management systems (BMS) in recent years, problems such as overcharging, over-discharging and short-circuiting of lithium-ion batteries have been effectively controlled, greatly reducing the risk of battery fire or explosion. At the same time, lithium-ion batteries do not contain heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium or other harmful substances, and they do not produce any waste gas or liquid in the production process. They are green and environmentally friendly batteries.

4. Working Principle and Charging and Discharging Process

The working principle of Li-ion batteries is based on the back-and-forth movement of lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes. When the battery is charged, the lithium ions in the positive electrode material are oxidised, leave the positive electrode, move through the electrolyte to the negative electrode and become embedded in it. At the same time, the negative electrode material receives lithium ions and embeds them, thus charging the battery. The discharging process is the opposite. Lithium ions are released from the negative electrode, move through the electrolyte to the positive electrode and release energy for use by the external circuit. This charging and discharging process realises the conversion and storage of electrical energy, providing a continuous source of power for electric vehicles.

In summary, lithium-ion automotive batteries have become an ideal energy storage option for modern electric vehicles due to their high energy density, long life and low self-discharge rate, safety and environmental protection, as well as unique operating principles and charging and discharging processes. These unique features not only improve the performance and user experience of electric vehicles, but also strongly support the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry.