Latest Battery Technologies Enabling Automakers Redefine EVs

Henry Jones, IT Director, Kia Motors

Regardless of the lithium-ion battery cell, the high-voltage battery systems that power EVs need meticulously designed battery management systems to ensure maximum power and safety.

While smartphones and smart homes are growing ever more advanced, they are still hindered by power. The battery hasn't advanced in years. But the world is on the verge of a power revolution. Big technology and auto manufacturers are all too aware of the limitations of lithium-ion batteries. In contrast, chips and 

operating systems are becoming efficient to save power. Popular EV manufacturers create diverse and innovative EV cars that use lithium-ion battery technology. Here are various types of battery complexity and size electric vehicles require. 

Currently, the largest EV manufacturers create vehicles with up to 110kWh battery systems. These vehicles can store enough energy to power a standard 60W light bulb for about 76 days and power the Tesla Model S for 400 miles. Their latest battery pack will likely have many thousands of lithium-ion cells. The 2170 Tesla lithium-ion cells are 10-15 percent more energy efficient than the Panasonic 18650 cells at work in previous models. The 100kWh battery solution, developed around the 18650 cells, contains 8,256 cells evenly distributed across 16 battery modules. This cell can pilot the Model S over 300 miles.

Toyota's popular PHEV, the Prius Prime, boasts an 8.8 kWh battery pack, which allows the vehicle to attain nearly 55 MPG in the city. 

Drivers can charge the 8.8 kWh batteries at home or on the go, and because the Prius Prime consumes more electricity than gasoline, it saves money at the pump. 

The Prius Prime is fueled by five battery stacks, each having 19 LI cells (95 cells) that combine to a total ability of 8.8kWh. The larger the more energy-dense battery is the best match for powering higher workloads throughout the vehicle, making the Prius Prime more reliant on electrical energy than the standard Prius.

Different EV vehicles demand various battery capacities, but EV batteries differ much more than potential. When developing EV batteries, engineers consider charging speed, charge cycle-ability, degradation, chemistry, and, of course, security. Energy and power density thresholds have been realized in EV applications, yet vehicle manufacturers are tweaking module and cell sizes for optimum performance levels.