Electrical Vehicle Battery
Literature Review- Electric Vehicle Battery
Introduction
Electric vehicles that lack the capacity to reach trolley wires need to have batteries. It is ideal to note that the lead acid batteries propel the majority of the contemporary electric cars (Donald, 2002). An electric vehicle battery is other cases also refer to the traction battery. This model of battery possesses the ability to be an act as primary or secondary battery. The secondary model of the traction battery is applicable in the propulsion of battery electric vehicles. These batteries are also applicable in the management and functioning of the forklifts, electric motorcycles, vans, trucks, and relevant electric vehicles (Oman, 1995). Electric vehicle battery has the ability and capacity to provide the crucial energy or power for a longer period in comparison to the SLI (Starting, Lighting, and Ignition). This relates to the nature of the electric vehicle battery that indicates high power in relation to weight (high power/weight).
History of Electric Battery Vehicle
There is uncertainty in relation to the inventor of the first Electric Vehicle, but numerous inventors have obtained credit for this feature. The Electric Battery Vehicles or the Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) were developed prior to the invention of the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicles. Since the exact date is not clear, historians indicate that, between 1832 and 1839, Robert Anderson had the opportunity to invent what came to be the first electric carriage. Between the same years, Sibrandus Stratingh also had the chance to make an impression to the world through the development of the small-scale electric car that was the first of its kind. His assistant Becker Christopher fulfilled the design in 1935 by building the small-scale electric vehicle. The storage battery for the vehicles has improved over different developments. The first improvement came from the influence of Gaston Plante who contributed through the invention of lead acid cells in the year 1959. The French physicist supplemented this innovation through the adoption of the first rechargeable batteries in the same year. In 1881, there was further development in relation to the adoption of a more efficient battery that proved to be reliable through its success within the early electric cars. This improvement on efficiency and reliability led to the flourish of the battery electric vehicles. France and the Great Britain became the first nations to support and embrace the developments of the electric vehicles (Westbrook, 2001).
Before the 20th century, battery electric vehicles had distinguished records in relation to speed and distance. During the 20th century, the battery electric vehicles hit another record by overcoming gasoline-powered vehicles with reference to the volume of sales. In 1913, battery electric vehicles had a downfall experience through the adoption or introduction of electric starters. This is because of the ease in the task of starting the internal combustion engine that had proved difficult and dangerous in the past. The other downfall nature of the vehicles was the mass production of the cheap Ford Model-T. The final downfall factor in the 20th century was the erosion of Edison’s direct current electric power system, which was the backbone, or the load of the electric motors. The limitation of the battery electric vehicles remained applicable to niche materials and components. The introduction of Forklift trucks as battery electric vehicles came in the year 1923. The late 1930s saw the end of the electric automobile industry. The resurrection of this industry was realized in the 1947 with the development of the point contact transistor. This was the beginning of a new era of the electric vehicles. The year 1959 saw the introduction of the first modern transistor-regulated electric car in the modern society. This was the predecessor to the current battery electric vehicles. This development saw the production of 47 Henney Kilowatts (Anderson, 2010).
Out of the 47 models produced, 24 were sold as the 1959 models, eight as the 1960 models while it remains unclear how the remaining 15 models were sold as either 1961 or 1962. Research studies indicate that there are about four to eight Henney Kilowatt battery electric vehicles within the modern society. The overwhelming challenges of the battery electric vehicles have resulted from costs, limitation of distance, charging duration, and battery life span. The advancements in the technology of battery have led to minimization of the challenges that have faced the battery electric vehicles in relation to their development. In the modern society, numerous controversies surround the development of the battery electric vehicles. Despite the fact that the modern society has the ability and technology to manufacture and offer battery electric vehicles, one of the major challenges to the mass and prolific production of these designs relates to the high cost of replacement batteries. In most of the cases, the cost of the replacement battery is usually more than the cost of purchasing the whole vehicle. This is usually the case during the purchasing of used battery electric vehicles (Bruno et al, 2011).
Application
The electrical battery vehicles are available in three crucial applications. The first application is the essence of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with the acronym PHEV. The second application of the electrical vehicles is the HEV commonly known as the Hybrid Electric vehicle. The third application of the electrical battery vehicles is known as the basic electrical vehicles (EV).
Different Types
There are three crucial types of the electric battery vehicles: automobile, light trucks, and neighborhood electric vehicle. Neighborhood electric vehicle refers to an electric vehicle that possesses four wheels and has the capacity to achieve speed ranging from 20 to 25 mph in relation to a paved level surface. The titling of the neighborhood electric vehicle must be in accordance with the state laws and might be operated on the public street or highways in the event it fulfills the safety requirements. Another category of the electric battery vehicles is the automobiles. These are electric battery vehicles that are propelled through the essence or one or more electric motors through the application of energy stored in the electric battery or any related energy storage device. In the process of movement, the electric motors are crucial to the provision of torque that is usually in instant mode thus facilitating strong and smooth acceleration of the automobile.
Vehicle Batteries
Introduction of Ordinary Vehicle Batteries
In the development of lead acid batteries, there are two categories or applications for the storage of energy vital for propelling the vehicle to other locations. These applications or categories include the ordinary automotive/vehicle batteries and the electrical batteries. The ordinary automotive batteries are application during starting, lighting, and ignition activities. The designing of the ordinary automotive batteries focuses on addressing the infrequent, the common high current drains usually over a short duration, and the ability to recharge initiates at the point the battery reaches the operating speed. An ordinary vehicle battery is designed in such a manner that it has the ability or capacity to provide many amps for a shorter duration. The deliverance of many amps is followed by the ability to recharge the energy through the alternator. These types of batteries are relatively cheaper and last longer in relation to their minimal maintenance costs. There are also more complex in comparison to the electric car batteries hence the long lasting in substantial maintenance by the user. The life span for ordinary vehicle batteries is approximately between 3 and 5 years. However, there are numerous methods through, which the user might have the ability to prolong the life span of the battery. These tips relate to quality maintenance of the battery water level, terminals, minimize the use of the car for extended duration, and applying the use of the car in short-runs. These tips would enhance the performance of the ordinary vehicle battery with the ability to continue for a longer period. The performance of the ordinary vehicle batteries depends on the level of maintenance and the use of the vehicle by the relevant owner (Friedrich, 1999).
Electrical Batteries
As illustrated in the above discussion, electrical batteries are also known as the traction batteries. These batteries have the ability to function as either secondary or primary energy storage devices. The secondary aspect of the electrical batteries indicates that the source of energy is applicable in the propulsion of the electric battery vehicles. These batteries are highly common in the forklifts, electric motorcycles, trucks, electric cars, riding floor scrubbers, and other crucial electric vehicles within the modern society. There are four types of the electrical batteries at the disposal of the society to enhance the propulsion of the battery electrical vehicles. These four types include the Lead Acid, Nickel Metal Hybrid, Zebra, and Lithium Ion (Donald, 2002).
Types of Electrical Batteries
Lead Acid Electrical batteries
This is the most common electrical battery available in the market and application because of its cheap nature. This type of the electrical batteries presents two types of energy storage devices that play different roles in the propulsion of the electrical battery vehicles. The first type relates to the vehicle engine starter while the other type is a reflection of the deep cycle battery. In the process of maintenance of the Lead-Acid electrical battery, it is ideal to monitor constantly the level of the electrolyte and replaces the water that undergoes evaporation or gases away during the charging cycle (Oman, 1995). In the past, numerous electric vehicles adopt the use of Lead acid batteries because of the excellent technology, availability, and cheap cost in relation to purchasing price and cost of maintenance. These batteries are not unique in the essence of environmental impact like other types in that they affect the surrounding during their composition, application, and recycling aspects. Deep-cycle types of lead batteries prove to be expensive in relation to their short life span. In most cases, the deep-cycle lead batteries last for three years, which is shorter than the life span of the vehicle (Sarah et al, 2012).
Nickel Metal Hybrid Electrical Batteries
This type reflects the development of a mature technology in the application of electrical battery vehicles. This type of electrical battery is highly applicable in the hybrid electrical battery vehicles. Under extensive and quality maintenance, the Nickel-metal hydride batteries have the opportunity to increase and enhance the life span. This ability is essential for the accumulation of much distance by hybrid electrical battery vehicles (Oman, 1995).
Zebra Electrical Batteries
In most cases, the Zebra battery is also known as the sodium battery. It adopts and implements the use of molten chloro- aluminate sodium that acts as the electrolyte of the battery. This type of battery possesses reasonable resistance level. The Zebra battery is free from the influence of cold weather despite the essence of increase in the cost of heating the battery. Its shortcoming relates to the low or poor power density and the minimal need of the heating of the electrolyte to approximately 270 degrees Celsius (Oman, 1995).
Lithium Ion Electrical Batteries
This type of electric battery has been the driving force in the management and functioning of laptops and other relevant consumer electronics. It reflects a new technology in the propulsion of the electrical battery vehicles in the modern society. This type has reasonable or good power density and moderate maturity level of technology (Oman, 1995). This type of battery is expensive in relation to purchase and maintenance of the device.
Function
Electrical batteries function through propelling the electric battery vehicles. This is through the application of the high ampere per hour capacity that contributes towards the reduction or minimization of the vehicle’s weight thus improving the performance levels. There is also the application of high power to weigh ratio that is applicable in the minimization of the weight of the vehicle and propelling of the electric device.
Efficiency (Things Effecting Efficiency Such As: Ac, Weight, Speed Etc.)
Several factors affect the efficiency of electrical batteries towards the achievement of their functions or goals. One of the common factors is the weight of the battery in relation to the power. Low density or power in relation to the weight would result in ineffective electrical battery thus inability to maximize the essence of the crucial functions such as propelling the electrical battery vehicles. The other influencing factor is the speed. Speed would determine the efficiency of the battery in that if the device has the ability to accommodate high speed, then it is efficient and effective towards the achievement of the vital functions.
Cost, Maintenance, Optimization, and Development
Cost the electrical batteries determine the level of efficiency or effectiveness of the device in relation to meeting its needs. The deep-cycle electrical batteries prove to be costly in that they reflect on shorter life span that the vehicle itself (Nina, 2012). This life span is always approximated to be three years thus an increase of burden to the cost of purchasing and maintaining the device. It is highly recommended that individuals maintain their batteries with the aim of enhancing their performance. This is through monitoring the terminals, water balance levels, and other relevant maintenance abilities. This is the first step towards optimization and development of the electrical batteries thus the achievement of the mature technology (Eberhard, 2005) .
References
Sarah J. Gerssen-Gondelach, André P.C. Faaij. (2012). Performance of batteries for electric vehicles on short and longer term. Journal of Power Sources 212 (2012) 111e129
Eberhard Meissner∗, Gerolf Richter. (2005). The challenge to the automotive battery industry: the battery has to become an increasingly integrated component within the vehicle electric power system. Journal of Power Sources 144 (2005) 438–460
Donald W. Corson. (2002). High Power battery systems for hybrid vehicles. Journal of ower sources 105 (2002) 110-113.
Nina Juul. 2012). Battery prices and capacity sensitivity: Electric drive vehicles. Energy 47 (2012) 403e410
- Friedrich, G. Richter. (1999). Performance requirements of automotive batteries for future car electrical systems. Journal of Power Sources 78 _1999. 4–11
Bruno G. Pollet a,∗,1, Iain Staffell b, Jin Lei Shang. (2012). Current status of hybrid, battery and fuel cell electric vehicles: From electrochemistry to market prospects. Electrochimica Acta 84 (2012) 235– 249
W.B. Gu and C.Y. Wang. (1998). Integrated Simulation and Testing of Electric Vehicle Batteries. 0-78034098-1/98/$10.00 0 1998 IEEE
SUN Kai1, SHU Qifang2 (2011). Overview of the Types of Battery Models. Proceedings of the 30th Chinese Control Conference July 22-24, 2011, Yantai, China
Henry Oman and Sid Gross. (1995). Electric-Vehicle Batteries. IEEEAES Systems Magazine, Februay 1595
Henry Oman (1995). New Electric-Vehicle Batteries. 19221 Normandy Park Drive SW, Seattle, WA 981 66 (206) 878-4458
Westbrook, M. H. (2001). The electric car: Development and future of battery, hybrid and fuel- cell cars. London: Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Anderson, C. D., & Anderson, J. (2010). Electric and hybrid cars: A history. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.
