LION Smart GmbH - FAQ - lithium-ion battery - performance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was the founder of the lithium-ion battery?

Important pioneer work by G. N. Lewis in Lithium batteries dates back to 1912. Based on his findings, Sony launched the first commercial lithium-ion battery in 1991.

What is the average range of a lithium-ion battery powered automobile?

According to the current technical advancement, a battery of an electric car is sufficient for 150 - 250 km of driving. The exact distance depends on the construction of the vehicle and the power storage unit. Vehicles with large battery packs can also have a range of more than 250 km. The battery usually has to be recharged for 2 - 3 hours. Other concepts include an exchangeable battery, allowing vehicles an even longer driving distance. Plug-in hybrid vehicles reach distances from 40 to 100 km. If distances are beyond this range, a combustion engine with an attached generator recharges the battery automatically.

When will there be a battery with a performance of more than 500 km?

Researchers are working intensively to improve efficiency of batteries. Currently, there are batteries in development with a range of more than 500 km. These types are very expensive and not suitable for mass production. In 10 - 15 years it may be possible to mass produce batteries with such a performance.

Why are lithium-ion batteries better than nickel-metal hydride batteries in hybrid cars?

Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy and performance density than the currently used nickel-metal hydride batteries. Other parameters such as a better cycle stability and a capacity to charge quickly as well as the missing memory effect make the use of lithium systems in vehicles and power tools more promising.

What is the most successful hybrid car model to date?

Toyota Prius. Toyota has sold this car especially in the United States and mainly in California. Globally, Toyota has sold more than 1 million units of this model.

In which year can all automobiles be powered without oil?

This point is still very far in the future and will take decades to reach. Many experts expect a dramatic change during the next 20 – 25 years.

By how much would greenhouse emissions be reduced if all cars on the planet were electric?

Currently, there are 700 million cars on the planet which produce 2.8 billion tones of carbon dioxide per annum. If all of those cars were electric, carbon dioxide emissions would be more than cut in half. The increasing use of renewable energy sources to produce power would help reduce carbon dioxide emissions even further. In the future, there will have to be larger storage capacities for electricity from renewable sources.

How much are the costs per kilometre of driving with electric cars compared to traditional fuel powered cars?

The costs of the battery have an impact on the costs per kilometre. The more batteries are produced, the more affordable they will be. As soon as the first cars are launched on a mass scale, significant price reductions are likely to occur. While the price of oil will rise over time due to scarcity, the energy costs of electric cars will become more competitive. Even with oil prices at 30$/barrel, total cost of ownership (TCO) for electric vehicles is significantly lower than for vehicles with an internal combustion engine.

Comparison: Electric vehicle versus plug-in hybrid (PHEV) – what is the better option?

Both car types are better than traditional cars with an internal combustion engine. Electric vehicles use no oil, while PHEVs still require oil for longer distances. The current benefit of PHEVs is their superior range to electric vehicles. Like HEVs, PHEVs are a typical bridge technology until electric vehicles are used on a large scale.