EXPLAINED

BATTERIES: THE HEART AND SOUL OF AN EV

Electrification is changing the definition of engineering. To differentiate between two different models of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, automotive manufacturers will tinker with valve timings, fuel injection, and other mechanical processes to meet performance requirements.

Of course, these days, computers are heavily involved in the process, and each petrol or diesel vehicle has its own computer to control parameters for different settings. Switching to batteryelectric power means…well, that the vehicle is the computer. Swapping combustion for voltage has altered the way that engineers approach automotive finesse, which itself hinges on technology prowess.

So, internal combustion engines (ICEs) are out and will one day be nothing more than a part of history. In comes the battery as the heart of the humble automobile, turning it into a flexible, improvable machine that has much higher potential than its petrol or diesel counterparts. Much like engines, batteries are formed in various ways and manufacturers are looking to optimise performance from battery cells, combine them as battery modules, and input them into EVs as battery packs.

In the previous issue of EV Magazine, one of the most common battery packs was explained, the platform battery, which is used by many and developed by dedicated technology innovators.

IN 2021, THE TWO MAIN TYPES OF BATTERY CELL WERE:

Lithium-ion batteries - used by many manufacturers, including Tesla and Jaguar

Nickel-metal hydride used predominantly by hybrid manufacturers like Toyota

HOW DO YOU MEASURE BATTERY LONGEVITY? The longevity of a battery pack is determined by the number of miles it can reach in a defined number of years. As an example, the Kia e-Niro is expected to achieve 100,000 miles over seven years. Most car dealers are able to offer long warranties for EV batteries and guarantee 70% original capacity in that period. With limited materials for batteries, mining industries are under pressure to meet demands while cell innovators are researching alternatives to ease the pressure on other materials. Increasing the energy density of batteries allows developers to shrink battery sizes, which should ultimately reduce the quantity of precious materials per unit.

Another option to reduce the strain on the industry is battery recycling, as muchneeded minerals and metals can be found in effective batteries.