Why Lithium-ion batteries are used in electric vehicle (EV)?

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Why Lithium-ion batteries are used in electric vehicle

Battery For Electric Vehicle

As we know that the performance of an EV depends on the coverage of distance by the vehicle in single charge. Therefore, rechargeable batteries are used in EVs so that after discharge of batteries they can be charged again. These days there is no good infrastructure (charging stations) available in countries hence the success of EV totally depending on the type of battery which could provide power to a vehicle for a long period so that EV can cover more distance. The function of charging stations is like petrol pumps for engine/fuel vehicle.

(Note – A battery bank in EV works as a source of power like fuel (such as diesel, petrol etc in the tank) works for internal combustion engine vehicle.)

Various types of batteries are used for various purpose such as Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, Lead Acid batteries, Nickel-Metal Hydrite batteries etc. But Lithium-ion batterie are used in EVs because of higher energy density or high power to weight ratio as compared to other batteries. That is why Li-ion batteries are also used in mobile phones, laptops etc.

Advantages of lithium-ion batteries over other batteries are given below –

  • Higher energy density or high power to weight ratio,
  • High energy efficiency
  • Excellent good-temperature performance
  • Low self-discharge rate
  • No problem in charging of fully discharged battery
  • Long life of battery. As such there is no concrete evidence to claim the life of Li-on batteries but it is predicted that the life of battery will vary from 5-10 years but some also claim that it may go up to 15 years or more (depending on the usage of vehicle.

         BATTERY BANK IN ONE OF THE VEHICLES (FRONT SIDE)

Electric vehicle Charging Stations

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Electric vehicle Charging Stations

Electric Vehicle Charging Station:

Electric vehicle comes with rechargeable type battery banks which stores electrical energy like any other mobile phone. These batteries need external power to charge themselves. Various types of electric vehicle charging station modes are available for electric vehicles –

  • Electric Vehicle Charging Station: Charging at home–

Home charging can be done by two methods –

  1. By direct plug-in with single phase AC supply of 230V- a vehicle can be charged with a cable which comes with vehicle by connecting it with 3pin socket at home. No extra charging equipment is required in this case. These chargers are slow charges & takes lot of time to charge the vehicle (time varies depending on the type of vehicle). E-vehicle can be charged overnight when owner goes for a sleep &vehicle will be fully charged when he wakes up in the morning.
  1. By charging with Wall Box – A wall box is a 3-phase AC supply system. Owner of the vehicle needs to buy a separate cable for it. This is a fast charger as compared to plug-in type. The power capacity/requirement of this charger is higher than the plug-in type charger.

*Note 1- Each e-vehicle comes with an On-board Charging system through which charging can be done at home. Only we need to connect the charging cable (plug in type or wall box type) with an On-board charging system.

Note 2 – Wall box type charger has some limitations with respect to power requirement at home, therefore these are slow chargers as compared to AC public charging system.

Note 3 – Details of each type of charger including power requirement is given in next topic. *

  • Electric Vehicle Charging Station: Public Charging Stations (PCS) –

When you go out on an e-vehicle & suddenly you feel that battery needs charging, then public charging stations will help you. These public charging stations will be available at various locations in the city (like petrol pumps for engine vehicles).

There are two types of chargers available at charging stations -AC & DC chargers. Both AC & DC public chargers are faster as compared to charging at home.

DC Charger –

As we know that DC power/supply is required to charge any battery therefore DC charger is an external devise & is faster than AC charger because it bypasses the On-board charging devise & provide DC power to battery directly through a DC connector fitted in the vehicle.

AC Charger –

An AC charger is also an external devise, but it has to convert AC power into DC to charge batteries through On-board charging system of the vehicle. The charging capacity of AC charger can’t be increased up to DC level because of additional space requirement for On-board charging system. But the public AC charger is faster than Wall box AC charger.

 

Working of Electric Vehicles

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Working of Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicle:

Working of Electric Vehicle:

An electric vehicle consists of following main components which play an important role in the operation of EV –

  1. Battery bank
  2. Inverter & Controller
  3. Motor
  4. Charger
  5. EPCU (Electric Power Control Units)
  6. Body of vehicle
  7. Wheels (numbers depending on the type of vehicle such as 4 wheelers, 3 wheelers ..)

Battery Bank –

Battery bank is an important component in electric vehicle because it stores electrical energy in the form of DC & it is rechargeable. The battery capacity determines the maximum driving distance of electric vehicle – higher the capacity – maximum distance covered.

Lethium-ion batteries are most suitable for electric vehicle as these batteries have higher capacity of storing electrical energy for same weight & package. Lithium-ion batteries are boon for electric vehicles because of its storing capacity of electrical energy. Battery gives power to inverter.

Inverter and Controller –

The function of inverter to convert DC power into AC power which is used by motor. The main function of controller is to control the electrical energy which in turn controls the speed of vehicle & torque it produces.

Motor–

The function of motor is to move the vehicle through wheels. Generally, BLDC (brushless DC) motor is used in electric vehicles. Motor may be AC or DC it depends upon the design of EV.

Charger –

It is a battery charging device that gets electricity from external source (grid power etc). AC electricity is converted into DC electricity & stored in the battery. Chargers are of two types –

  1. On board Charger- It is installed in the car,
  2. Off board Charger – It is not installed in the car.

Each charger comes with charger port that allows the vehicle to connect with external source of AC power to charge the batteries.

Body of vehicle –

Body of an vehicle depending on the type of vehicle such as 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, 4-wheelers, buses etc. The function of body is to provide space on the vehicle so that persons could sit /material could be stored in it. Body of vehicles helps all components to be fitted properly & interconnected with each other.

Wheels –

Wheels takes power from motor & helps vehicle to move forward.

We can understand the working of EV (4 wheeler) through the diagram given below-

 

 

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Electric Vehicle (EV)

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Electric Vehicle

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Electric Vehicle :

What is Electric Vehicle?

An electric vehicle is just like any another vehicle which is used to carry persons & material from one place to another place, but it operates with the help of an electric motor which is powered by rechargeable batteries that can be charged by external electrical source. It is also known as EV (short name of electric vehicles).

Other conventional vehicles have Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) & they use fossil fuels like diesel, petrol, CNG, LPG etc. to operate.

Main components of an electric vehicle (EV) –

  1. Battery bank
  2. Inverter & Controller
  3. Motor
  4. Charger
  5. EPCU (Electric Power Control Units)
  6. Body of vehicle
  7. Wheels (numbers depending on the type of vehicle such as 4 wheelers, 3 wheelers ..)

All above components are required to convert the electrical power into kinetic power that drives the electric vehicle forward.

Types of electric vehicle –

Electric vehicles are available in all forms –

  1. Two-Wheeler
  2. Three-Wheeler,
  3. Four-Wheeler
  4. Buses

How electric vehicle is different from other vehicles–

Look wise an electric vehicle is similar to conventional vehicle from outside but internally they are different. Following are major differences –

  1. A conventional vehicle has an engine which needs fuel like diesel, petrol, CNG, LPG etc to run it while electric vehicle needs electric supply which is taken from battery bank that is installed inside the vehicle.
  2. A conventional vehicle generates green house gases (GHG) such as CO2, CO etc while there is no GHG emission from electric vehicles as there no fuel combustion.
  3. A conventional vehicle makes lot of noise because of engines & moving parts when it runs while electric vehicle doesn’t produce any noise/sound.
  4. Maintenance cost is less in electric vehicle (as it doesn’t have engine) as compared with conventional vehicles.
  5. Running cost (Rs/Km) of electric vehicle is also less as compared with conventional vehicle.