In 2020, electric cars made a clear change. Engineers and scientists worked on the battery life and its scope. Battery parts, such as annex, cathode, separation and electricity, are closely attached. Each change in one part helped the next part to work better. This change has set a new cycle for cleaner vehicles.
Changes in battery chemistry and materials
The batteries work well when their parts fit together. In 2020, the teams improved the anode, cathode, separation and electricity with new materials.
Anudit changes: Car makers are still using graphite to store high energy. New materials such as titanium nebium oxide and molybdenum, a sulfide second, showing the fast lithium ion flow. Rapid ion flow discounts shipping time and carrying battery power for a longer period.
Cathod changes: Batteries use lithium iron phosphate (LFP), cobalt oxide of nickel (NMC), and nicke lithium cobal. In 2020, LFP batteries drew more attention. It helps in maintaining low temperature, working for a longer period, and cost less. NMC and NCA help high -end cars go away. A new mixture such as lithium-niche-nickel-nicken-free-free manganese.
The separation and the electrolyte changes: new separation materials such as polymer mixtures and graphic mixture raises strength and poured ions. Mix the new electrolytes of lithium salts with carbonate solvents. These mixtures enhance battery safety and carry charging over time.
From chemistry to the real world: the longest term and a better battery life
New parts and design changes have made a clear sign. They helped in two big ways:
1. More energy in each battery
The energy in the battery is close to its weight. More energy means a longer journey. In 2020, LFP cells grew from about 80 WH/KG to about 140 WH/KG. Car makers can build car more than 520 km on one charge. NMC batteries, once much higher, have grown from LFP levels. This change allows car makers to provide a budget EVS that reaches about 465 km or more.
2. A longer battery life and safer use
A good battery should last many charging cycles. In 2020, better parts and smart battery examination reduced damage caused by lithium accumulation. The strongest bond in the electricity of the battery power remains on many uses. The Cathodes of LFP have kept the batteries cold and reduced the risk of fire. This safety helped by car makers win confidence and meet the rules.
Market effects and global trends
The battery changes did not occur in the bubble. They are associated with the needs of the market and new rules that drive the choice of the car.
China’s role: In 2020, China led with LFP batteries. Car makers in China used new cell designs that fit the car tire. These designs allow cars more than 500 km for one charge.
Cost and width: NMC cell cost is about 20 % for making LFP cells. This cost difference helps to decrease price marks for regular models. The cheapest batteries that go beyond the world battery shares from China to other regions such as Europe and North America.
Politics and rules: Many governments have set bases for non -emission cars. New laws now help long evs long. These links between the rules and the needs of car buyers have led to more work on battery parts.
What awaits us: the challenges and opens the tracks
Progress in 2020 brings the work that has not yet been done. The teams now fix the new obstacles:
Increase the battery output while finding raw materials in a fair way. Building strong systems to reuse old batteries for recycling or second use. Test new battery ideas such as solid condition cells that may store more energy and reduce risks.
conclusion
In 2020, the battery makers reached clear goals. They changed the battery and design parts so that EVS now goes further, last longer, and remain safe. The work in 2020 built a strong base for the future of electric cars. The new battery parts will help the cars operate for a longer period of one charge and keep drivers safety while providing energy for our planet.
Reference
Koech, AK, MWANDILA, G., & MULOLANI, F. (2024). Review for improvements to the electric car battery. Heliyon, 10 (15), E34806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34806
Möller, T., et al. (2024). Battery chemistry operates the future of electric cars. McKinsey and Partners.
International Energy Agency. (2020). Outlook Global EV 2020.
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