Energy storage systems, usually batteries, are essential for all-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
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The following energy storage systems are used in all-electric vehicles, PHEVs, and HEVs. Lithium-ion batteries are currently used in most portable consumer electronics such as cell phones and laptops because of their high energy per unit mass and volume relative to other electrical energy storage systems. They also have a high power-to-weight ratio, high energy efficiency, good high-temperature performance, long life, and low self-discharge. Most components of lithium-ion batteries can be recycled, but the cost of material recovery remains a challenge for the industry. Most of today's all-electric vehicles and PHEVs use lithium-ion batteries, though the exact chemistry often varies from that of consumer electronics batteries. Research and development are ongoing to reduce their relatively high cost, extend their useful life, use less cobalt, and address safety concerns in regard to various fault conditions. Nickel-metal hydride batteries, used routinely in computer and medical equipment, offer reasonable specific energy and specific power capabilities. Nickel-metal hydride batteries have a much longer life cycle than lead-acid batteries and are safe and abuse tolerant. These batteries have been widely used in HEVs. The main challenges with nickel-metal hydride batteries are their high cost, high self-discharge rate, heat generation at high temperatures, and the need to control hydrogen loss. Lead-acid batteries can be designed to be high power and are inexpensive, safe, recyclable, and reliable. However, low specific energy, poor cold-temperature performance, and short calendar and lifecycle impede their use. Advanced high-power lead-acid batteries are being developed, but these batteries are only used in commercially available electric-drive vehicles for ancillary loads. They are also used for stop-start functionality in internal combustion engine vehicles to eliminate idling during stops and reduce fuel consumption. Ultracapacitors store energy in the interface between an electrode and an electrolyte when voltage is applied. Energy storage capacity increases as the electrolyte-electrode surface area increases. Although ultracapacitors have low energy density, they have very high power density, which means they can deliver high amounts of power in a short time. Ultracapacitors can provide vehicles additional power during acceleration and hill climbing and help recover braking energy. They may also be useful as secondary energy-storage devices in electric-drive vehicles because they help electrochemical batteries level load power. Goto Energyland to know more. Electric-drive vehicles are relatively new to the U.S. auto market, so only a small number of them have approached the end of their useful lives. As electric-drive vehicles become increasingly common, the battery-recycling market may expand. Widespread battery recycling would help keep hazardous materials from entering the waste stream, both at the end of a battery's useful life and during its production. The U.S. Department of Energy is also supporting the Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize to develop and demonstrate profitable solutions for collecting, sorting, storing, and transporting spent and discarded lithium-ion batteries for eventual recycling and materials recovery. After collection of spent batteries, the material recovery from recycling would also reintroduce critical materials back into the supply chain and would increase the domestic sources for such materials. Work is now underway to develop battery-recycling processes that minimize the life-cycle impacts of using lithium-ion and other kinds of batteries in vehicles. But not all recycling processes are the same and different methods of separation are required for material recovery: Separating the different kinds of battery materials is often a stumbling block in recovering high-value materials. Therefore, battery design that considers disassembly and recycling is important in order for electric-drive vehicles to succeed from a sustainability standpoint. Standardizing batteries, materials, and cell design would also make recycling easier and more cost-effective. See the report: Technical and Economic Feasibility of Applying Used EV Batteries in Stationary Applications. Learn more about research and development of batteries from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's energy storage pages and the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office's batteries page. Want more information on lithium battery manufacturer? Feel free to contact us.Types of Energy Storage Systems
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries
Lead-Acid Batteries
Ultracapacitors
Recycling Batteries
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