-02.png){kind=logo}
CARBON REMOVAL
Carbon removal is the process by which humans actively and intentionally remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it in longer-lived reservoirs.
Lithium-ion Battery Technology
With the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) globally, energy storage systems such as batteries are essential for both hybrid EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs. Lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used batteries in this technology and
Video caption
Why do we need lithium-ion batteries? And how do they work?
Emissions across all types of transportation (only the use of the vehicles) accounted for 27% of emissions in the United States and 24% of worldwide emissions in 2020. The kind of energy required to power an electric vehicle to run for hundreds of miles and charge quickly and conveniently enough, requires hundreds of battery cells in one battery pack that goes into an EV. The beginning of these batteries lay in cobalt batteries like we use in a number of devices but they turned out to be too expensive and cobalt in limited supply. So the industry needed to solve for cheaper solutions, limited supply of raw materials and energy density for range of car operation. This gave rise to the modern battery packs and lithium-ion batteries as we understand them today.
What does a battery cell look like?
What are the major kinds of lithium-ion batteries used in EVs?
Most technologies today use lithium-ion chemistries. The most commonly used lithium-ion chemistries are NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) and LFP (lithium iron phosphate). The decision of the material for the cathode is most important because it determines the energy density and is perhaps the most expensive component.
What are the cell structures commonly used?
The two most common cell structures are cylindrical and prismatic - decision depends on several factors such as capacity, cost, lifecycle and density
What happens to the battery at the end of its life?
The end of an EV battery life is the end of life of the battery pack but the battery cells still have viability. Once this battery pack is disposed, the cells need to be unassembled. The cells can be repaired and reused and sometimes 80% battery capacity is still left and can be used for other things. The two most essential consideration in deciding what happens to a battery cell upon disposal is both financial and safety of use of the battery cell.
Experts suggest that the battery recycling sector is very crowded, with some players incinerating the cells while others use chemicals to deplete them. There is more recycling capacity than there are batteries needing recycling. Aside form the several recycling startups, startups such as Evident Battery are making identification of the battery health easier, making the recycling process safer and more financially viable.