Member-only story
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Electric Car Battery Technology
Elon Musk has called batteries the new oil. Are electric vehicles safe, and what do you need to know about their batteries if you’re considering buying one?
Understanding Battery Chemistry: The Power Behind Electric Cars
A battery, put simply, releases stored-up electrical energy. Inside a battery, two types of rods or poles. One, known as the cathode, holds the electrical charge, and the other, the anode, receives an electrical charge. These rods are separated by an electrolyte, which stimulates the chemical reaction.
When you power on your device, whether a flashlight, mobile phone, or electric vehicle, the electrical energy flows from the cathode, through a load, and into the anode. The load will use up some energy, so batteries eventually go flat. Recharging the battery is essentially the reverse operation in which the chemicals are reset to their original state.
Comparing Different Types of Electric Car Batteries
Batteries are identified according to the cathode. For instance, a Lithium Ion Phosphate battery has cathodes made from Lithium Ion…
