There are a lot of ways to design batteries, and each use case has a different best build scenario. For example, many batteries designed to hold a lot of energy for RV accessories, marine uses, and even home solar systems utilize a lead-acid build that has been slowly refined for almost a century. By contrast, newer electric vehicles tend to go with a lithium-ion battery.
There are a lot of different designs even within lithium-based batteries, and lithium-ion is not the only build that uses lithium, but it is currently the option with the best energy density for the weight. It also helps that lithium-ion batteries can charge quickly when compared to older rechargeable batteries, because that affects how long your vehicle needs to be hooked up to its EV charger before you have its full driving range available.
Rechargeable Lithium
There are a few metals that are core components in an electric vehicle battery, apart from lithium itself.
Cobalt
Manganese
Steel
Nickel
Each of these plays a vital role, and all of them are present in most lithium-ion battery designs. Manganese, for example, plays a similar role to cobalt, but it provides greater stability and decreases the chances of combustion. Cobalt is still an important part of a few core components, however. Nickel also helps with energy density, but the most important role other than lithium itself is played by steel, which is also a vital building block for many other car parts.
The Vital Role of Steel
Steel that is specially formulated for electric motors and lithium-based batteries is commonly called the heart of the EV by many materials specialists due to its combination of features. The right formulation for steel provides strength and protection against hazards alongside high conductivity, is relatively lightweight for the energy density of the material, and has a long life. All of those features are vital when designing batteries that will be used in commuter vehicles, and they become even more vital when you consider electric utility vehicles and commercial vehicles that take on difficult tasks and spend much more time in operation than the average personal car.
Steel is also easier to produce than many of the other components that are commonly used in EV battery design, so it can drastically lower the cost of a battery, and that helps keep the vehicles priced at accessible entry points for more consumers. That’s a big part of why it has become so popular, especially as more manufacturers look to compete in the EV market.
How Long Do EV Batteries Last?
Today’s electric vehicle batteries are designed for a lifespan of about a decade. This is significantly higher than what one could expect to see in an electric car battery from ten years ago or more, and it is largely possible due to updated designs and new approaches to the material composition of the battery. It also helps to have the right car EV charger, because your vehicle’s battery will give you its best performance when it is being charged in line with the manufacturer’s specifications.
