The other player in battery development is the automotive industry for electric vehicle application. In
1991, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), several utilities, and
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) formed the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC)
to develop better batteries for electric vehicle (EV) applications.
Battery Types
1.primary batteries (non-rechargeable)
2.secondary batteries (rechargeable)
Batteries in electric vehicle EVs are the secondary rechargeable type
Lead–Acid Batteries
Lead–acid starting batteries are the most common battery used in vehicles today. This battery is an ambient temperature, aqueous electrolyte battery. A cousin to this battery is the deep-cycle lead–acid battery, now widely used in golf carts and forklifts. The first electric cars built also used this technology. Although the lead–acid battery is relatively inexpensive, it is very heavy, with a limited usable energy by weight (specific energy). The battery’s low specific energy and poor energy density make for a very large and heavy battery pack, which cannot power a vehicle as far as an equivalent gas-powered vehicle.
Nickel Iron and Nickel Cadmium Batteries
Nickel iron (Edison cells) and nickel cadmium (nicad) pocket and sintered plate batteries have been in use for many years. These batteries also have a long cycle life. Both of these batteries are recyclable. Nickel iron batteries are non-toxic, while nicads are toxic. They can also be. The biggest drawback to these batteries is their cost.
Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries
Nickel metal hydride batteries are offered as the best of the next generation of batteries. Nickel
metal hydride batteries have a high self-discharge rate: they lose their charge when stored for long
periods of time. Honda is using these batteries in the EV Plus, which is available for lease in California.
Sodium Sulfur Batteries
This battery is a high-temperature battery, with the electrolyte operating at temperatures of 5728F
(3008C). The sodium component of this battery explodes on contact with water, which raises certain
safety concerns. The Ford Motor Company uses sodium sulfur batteries in their Ecostar,a converted delivery minivan that is currently sold in Europe. Sodium sulfur batteries are only available to EV manufacturers.
Lithium Iron and Lithium Polymer Batteries
The USABC considers lithium iron batteries to be the long-term battery solution for EVs. The batteries have a very high specific energy: 68 Wh=lb (150 Wh=kg). They have a molten-salt electrolyte and share many features of a sealed bipolar battery. Lithium iron batteries are also reported to have a very long cycle life. These are widely used in laptop computers. These batteries will allow a vehicle to travel distances and accelerate at a rate comparable to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Lithium polymer batteries eliminate liquid electrolytes.
Zinc and Aluminum Air Batteries
Zinc air batteries are currently being tested in postal trucks in Germany. These batteries use either
aluminum or zinc as a sacrificial anode. As the battery produces electricity, the anode dissolves into the electrolyte. When the anode is completely dissolved, a new anode is placed in the vehicle. The aluminum or zinc and the electrolyte are removed and sent to a recycling facility. These batteries have a specific energy of over 97 Wh=lb (200 Wh=kg). The German postal vans currently carry 80 kWh of energy in their battery, giving them about the same range as 13 gallons (49.2 liters) of gasoline. In their tests, the vans have achieved a range of 615 mi (990 km) at 25 miles per hour (40 km=h).
EV company Tesla: car perfomance
Model S 0-60 in 2.4s 370mi range
Model 3 0-60 in 3.2s 310mi range AWD
Model X 325mi range 7 seat
Roadster 0-60 in 1.9s 620mi range top speed 250mph