Battery technology overview
It is possible to rate the various battery technologies in terms of a few major performance characteristics. This allows easy comparison of the technologies, and gives an indication of how well each battery will perform in an EV application. The most commonly used characteristics are specific power, energy density, specific energy, cycle life, and cost. Each of these terms is defined as follows: (1) {open_quotes}Specific power{close_quotes} measures how much power per unit weight a battery can deliver instantaneously. This is important for vehicle acceleration and regenerative current receptivity. Specific power is measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg). (2) {open_quotes}Energy density- measures how much electrical energy unit volume a battery can store. It is desirable to have energy density as high as possible so that space on board the vehicle will be conserved. Energy density is measured in watt-hours per liter (Wh/1). (3) {open_quotes}Specific energy{close_quotes} measures how much electrical energy per unit weight a battery can store. Higher specific energy will allow either a lighter weight vehicle or a longer driving range. Specific energy is measured in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). (4) {open_quotes}Cycle life{close_quotes} measures the durability of the battery, and is measured in number of cycles. It is commonly defined as the number of charge/discharge to 80 percent depth-of-discharge (D.O.D.) cycles a battery can withstand over its useful life without significant performance degradation. (5) {open_quotes}Cost{close_quotes} measures the battery cost in terms of the energy, storage capacity. Cost is measured in dollars per kilowatt-hour ($/kWh).
- OSTI ID:
- 387430
- Journal Information:
- Battery Man, Vol. 37, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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