.

Battery Technology

Wikicars, a place to share your automotive knowledge
Revision as of 13:50, 7 July 2006 by Mcniel (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigationJump to search


Lead Acid

A hybrid vehicle uses a conventional lead acid battery for all the same reasons that a conventional automobile uses one. All hybrid vehicles still have lead acid batteries, but most - not all - current hybrids have a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery as an integral part of their hybrid system, to assist in fuel savings and lower emissions.

Lead-free alternatives, such as nickel metal hydride and lithium ion batteries, are already on the market in electric and electric-hybrid vehicles, and offer several advantages over conventional lead acid starter batteries. Performance and environmental benefits include:

  • Higher energy (power) density
  • Reduced weight/volume
  • Longer battery life
  • Improved fuel economy due to lighter weight and higher energy capacity
  • Less material used, lower toxicity, and potentially recyclable

Nickel Metal Hydride

A nickel metal hydride battery (abbreviated NiMH) is a type of rechargeable battery similar to a nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery, but has a hydride absorbing alloy for the anode instead of cadmium, which is an environmental hazard; therefore, it is less detrimental to the environment. Applications of NiMH type batteries include hybrid vehicles such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.

Lithium Ion

Lithium ion batteries (sometimes abbreviated Li-Ion) are a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in consumer electronics. They are currently one of the most popular types of battery, with one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect and a slow loss of charge when not in use. Lithium ion battery applications have the potential of eclipsing the NiMH battery in hybrid vehicles lithium-ion-hybrid-batteries.html; compared to a lithium ion battery, the NiMH battery's volumetric energy density (amount of potential energy stored in the battery) is lower and self-discharge is higher. Lithium ion batteries are smaller, lighter, and have fewer volatile gases than NiMH batteries. However, they are not currently scaled for use in hybrid vehicle applications - while they have potential cost-saving attributes, they can be dangerous if mistreated, and, because they are less durable, may have a shorter lifespan compared to other battery types.

Related articles:

http://www.hybridcars.com/battery-comparison.html

http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=1042

Retrieved from "https://wikicars.org/index.php?title=Battery_Technology&oldid=10679"