Electric Car Battery Technology

Electric vehicles (EV) need batteries to run and current limitations in electric car battery technology are some of the main hurdles in the way of mass adoption of EVs. Researchers are working to increase the energy density of batteries, which could lead to an increase in the driving range of EVs. The battery in an electric car is used to power everything in the vehicle, including the electric motor. That�s why electric car battery technology focuses on power and longevity.

Current hybrids rely mainly on a fossil fuel engine, with an onboard battery pack and supplemental electric motor to generate power and reduce fuel consumption. The gasoline engine provides most of the power to recharge the batteries. Fast forward to the future and we will get plug-in hybrids, hailed as the next generation of hybrids. These will cater for urban, in-city commuter vehicles. With these EVs, electric car battery technology takes precedence over a fossil fuel engine and the battery pack is much larger than in a current hybrid vehicle. Once battery power runs out (after 20 or so miles), the gasoline engine takes over. The vehicle is plugged in at night so the battery pack can be recharged when electricity prices are lower.

Recent developments of lithium sulphur (Li-S) battery energy storage may help to further develop electric car battery technology. Sion Power Corporation and BASF have joined forces to accelerate the commercialization of Sion Power's proprietary lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology for the electric vehicle (EV) market and other high-energy applications. The focus of the collaboration is to develop battery materials to improve Li-S battery life and to increase the energy density in order to extend the driving range of future EVs.

Another company focused on improving electric car battery technology is Firefly Energy. The company believes its carbon carbon-graphite foam plate technology can play a huge role in future hybrid and electric vehicles due to its low cost and high energy density. Firefly says its battery technology is ideal for EVs, as the technology overcomes many of lead acid batteries' key drawbacks in this application. It claims its batteries are able to endure the high rates of discharge and high cycling requirements required by this application and improve vehicle performance in critical areas like range and acceleration.