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Battery technologies
How do electric car batteries work?
Technology
Grades 8 – 12
Author: Trauer János
Graphic designer: Szekeres Gergő, Csötönyi Péter
Developer: Mosonyi Tímea
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Battery
The cell is the smallest functional unit of a battery. It converts chemical energy into electrical energy and stores electrical energy in chemical form while charged.
A module consists of several cells connected in series or parallel, depending on whether the goal is to achieve higher voltage or higher capacity.
The battery pack is the complete battery unit of an electric vehicle, consisting of multiple modules as well as control, protection, and cooling systems. Apart from storing energy, the battery pack is responsible for monitoring the safe operation of the cells.
Cell
An LFP battery is a type of lithium-ion battery that uses lithium iron phosphate as the cathode and graphite as the anode. LFP cells operate on the principle that lithium ions move between the anode and the cathode during charging and discharging.
During charging, the lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, where they are stored within the graphite structure. During discharge, this process is reversed: the lithium ions return to the cathode while the battery supplies electrical energy.
One of the major advantages of LFP batteries is safety. The cathode's crystalline structure is chemically stable, meaning that it is not prone to overheating or developing fire hazards.
Another significant benefit is that they do not contain cobalt, and the necessary raw materials, such as iron and phosphate, are relatively accessible and inexpensive. This makes LFP technology a more economical and sustainable option for electric vehicle batteries.
Raw materials
The production of electric vehicle batteries requires raw materials, such as cobalt, copper, nickel, lithium, and manganese. These resources can be found in South and North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe, which is why battery manufacturing is closely linked to global raw material extraction and international supply chains.
Of the raw materials used in the anode of battery cells, the proportion of graphite is the largest. Aluminium, nickel, copper, and steel are also present in significant quantities. Manganese, cobalt, lithium, and iron are found in smaller amounts but play an important role in the battery's operation.
Narration
The cell is the smallest functional unit of a battery. It converts chemical energy into electrical energy and stores electrical energy in chemical form while charged.
A module consists of several cells connected in series or parallel, depending on whether the goal is to achieve higher voltage or higher capacity.
The battery pack is the complete battery unit of an electric vehicle, consisting of multiple modules as well as control, protection, and cooling systems. Apart from storing energy, the battery pack is responsible for monitoring the safe operation of the cells.
An LFP battery is a type of lithium-ion battery that uses lithium iron phosphate as the cathode and graphite as the anode. LFP cells operate on the principle that lithium ions move between the anode and the cathode during charging and discharging.
During charging, the lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, where they are stored within the graphite structure. During discharge, this process is reversed: the lithium ions return to the cathode while the battery supplies electrical energy.
One of the major advantages of LFP batteries is safety. The cathode's crystalline structure is chemically stable, meaning that it is not prone to overheating or developing fire hazards.
Another significant benefit is that they do not contain cobalt, and the necessary raw materials, such as iron and phosphate, are relatively accessible and inexpensive. This makes LFP technology a more economical and sustainable option for electric vehicle batteries.
The production of electric vehicle batteries requires raw materials, such as cobalt, copper, nickel, lithium, and manganese. These resources can be found in South and North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe, which is why battery manufacturing is closely linked to global raw material extraction and international supply chains.
Of the raw materials used in the anode of battery cells, the proportion of graphite is the largest. Aluminium, nickel, copper, and steel are also present in significant quantities. Manganese, cobalt, lithium, and iron are found in smaller amounts but play an important role in the battery's operation.