Pro Lithium will address the issue of electric and hybrid cars on the advantages but also the disadvantages they have. With gasoline costs rising, these cars are becoming more and more attractive in terms of their running costs compared to those of diesel or super unleaded.
Depending on the characteristics of the battery, the car will see its performance reduced or increased with the main criteria being: weight, lifespan, range and performance.
Understanding which battery we are talking about makes it possible to differentiate the type of lithium batteries but also the advantages and disadvantages
Type batterie | Densité Energetique | Densité de puissance | Stabilité | Tolérance températures | Durée de vie | Coût | Moyenne |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Composant) | Kwh/Kg | Kw/Kg | Fiablité / Sécurité | Résistance Temp / Hum | Années | Kw | Performance |
| LiCoO2 - Dioxyde de Cobalt de Lithium | 8/10
| 4/10
| 4/10
| 6/10
| 4/10
| 6/10
| 5.33/10
|
| NMC - Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganèse | 8/10
| 6/10
| 6/10
| 6/10
| 6/10
| 6/10
| 6.33/10
|
| LFP - Lithium Fer Phosphate LifePo4 | 4/10
| 8/10
| 8/10
| 8/10
| 8/10
| 8/10
| 7.33/10
|
| NCA - Lithium oxyde d\'Aluminium Nickel Cobalt | 8/10
| 6/10
| 4/10
| 6/10
| 6/10
| 4/10
| 5.66/10
|
| LMO - Lithium ion oxyde de manganèse | 6/10
| 6/10
| 6/10
| 4/10
| 4/10
| 6/10
| 5.33/10
|
| LTO - Titanate de Lithium Li4Ti2O12 | 4/10
| 6/10
| 8/10
| 8/10
| 8/10
| 2/10
| 6/10
|
Battery type Lithium (Chemistry)
Let’s now move on to the different technologies present on the market NMC – LFP – LTO – NCA – LiCoO2 – LMO
Lithium-ion and Lithium battery the differences?!
In lithium ion batteries we include lithium Li-ion batteries. It is exactly the same “Li-on=Li+“. On the other hand, when the name mentioned is only Lithium, it is about lithium metal batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are what we mainly use in the market in 2023. Lithium is present on the ions which move from negative (-) to positive (+) for the discharge or inversely from + to – for the recharging by the electrolyte. The ions are therefore present on the cathodes, anode (most often graphite) and in the electrolyte. Ions are present in the electrolyte as they pass from one electrode to another.
A lithium metal battery has a neutral lithium metal anode (-) with 3 protons, a nucleus and 3 electrons (-) with lithium ions between the electrodes.
Lithium-ions use and become Ionized Lithium (Li+) passing from positive to negative and vice versa while lithium metal adds an anode (negative electrode) and not graphite as we can find in Lithium-Ion
A LiCoO2 (LCO/LICO) lithium cobalt dioxide battery is one of the first batteries to be marketed that uses ionized atoms with a graphite (-) anode with superimposed layers of carbon. Its short lifespan and rather slow charging make it a less interesting battery on the market.
Its relatively low cost price makes it a cheap battery mainly used in mobile phones.
Once charged on the positive cathode side, we have CoO2 cobalt dioxide and on the negative cathode side we had Lithium LIC graphite.
The life of the cell is about 800 cycles with a voltage of 3.6V – Energy density about 200Wh / Kg
LifePo4 (LFP) batteries are lithium batteries with low production costs compared to most other models often used in industry, stationary batteries but also increasingly for automobiles by brands such as Tesla and BYD .
These are batteries that easily replace old lead batteries.
LFP cells are known to be robust and do not like low operating temperatures below 15°C. Its thermal stability and the fact that it does not use cobalt and nickel gives it growing interest for users of lithium batteries. Its number of cycles of use of more than 5000 allows it to last over time.
On the downside, its energy density is about 15% lower than average and therefore heavier and bulkier.
The Lithium LFP LifePo4 battery positive side cathode we have iron phosphate and negative side of the graphite of Lithium (anode LIC).
The life cycle of a LifePo4 cell (LFP) can be more than 5000 charge/discharge cycles for a voltage per cell of 3.2V with an energy density of 100/110 Wh Kg. Its thermal resistance can go up to 250 °C.
NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) type Lithium batteries are the batteries that remain the most widespread for electric cars on the European market.
Exploiting the Lithium-ion chemically reminds by obtaining the electron on the atom of Lithium become positive it becomes ionized. Positive ion called Cation and the opposite of a negative ion called anion. On the positive side “cathode/Lithium” we have Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt hence its name NMC (initial of its 3 materials)
NMC cells are very efficient, hence their use in electric and hybrid vehicles. However, they are less resistant to high temperatures and are more easily unstable in use. The energy density is very good and the number of cycles achievable in the lifetime of a cell is above average.
Battery cathode positive side charged we have Nickel, Manganese and Cobalt (NiMnCoO2) and the anode negative side we had Graphite Lithium (LIC)
The life cycle of an NMC cell can be between 1500 and 2000 charge and discharge cycles for a voltage per cell of 3.6V and an energy density of approximately 200 Wh per Kg.
Lithium Manganese LiMn204 (MVO) batteries have a positive pole cathode made of Manganese and negative side anode made of graphite. Like most other lithium cells, the lithium ions do not pass from one electrode to the other through the separating membrane. Its thermal stability allows it to be recharged quickly with a discharge that can be fast (Ah) and remain stable (ideal for high intensity use).
Its limited lifespan is its main drawback.
Manganese batteries once charged positive side (cathode) there is Manganese (Mn204) and negative side (anode) lithium graphite (LIC)
The LiMn204 (MVO) lithium cell cycle is approximately 600 between charges and discharges for a 3.6V cell with an energy density of at least 140Wh per Kg. The cells can withstand up to a temperature of 250°C which is rather high.
Lithium NCA Nickel, Cobalt, Aluminum Oxide batteries also called LiNiCoAIO2 are not cheap and are sensitive to high temperatures which requires slow charging and discharging for a limited lifespan.
The very good energy density makes it an asset for its use.
The battery charged on the positive cathode side is found with aluminum oxide, nickel and Cobalt while on the negative anode side we find Lithium graphite (LIC).
The life cycle of an NCA Lithium cell is around 500 cycles including charges and discharges for a cell voltage of 3.6V with a high energy density of 280 Wh per Kg.
NCA lithium cells can withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees.
Lithium LTO (Lithium Titanate) Li4Ti2012 batteries are not made of graphite on the anode (negative) side, which improves fire safety and the risk of fire starting. Having no graphite increases the yield by about 10 times the speed of the load.
Having no SEI layer forming on the anode, its lifetime is increased because the SEI layer on Lithium-ion batteries has the effect of obstructing the anode reducing the passage of Lithium ions
.
Lithium-ion substitutes can thus be used, making it possible to considerably change the characteristics of the cells, as it is possible to find on the market MVO or NMC are good examples.
LMP – Lithium Metal Polymer batteries are batteries that have the electrolyte in gel form to improve resistance to shocks and vibrations but limiting the Lithium batteries to about 300 charge/discharge cycles.
The battery operates at an ambient temperature of at least 60°C to 80°C to maintain its lifespan and proper operation. Quickly abandoned by car manufacturers like Autolib, which required cars to be constantly plugged in to maintain battery temperature.