E-MOBILITY CHOOSING THE RIGHT BATTERY
Jake Holmes assesses IDTechEx’s research into the advantages and pitfalls of different battery types
B
atteries make up one of the three pillars of electric vehicle drivetrains and are therefore essential to decarbonising the
transport sector. Market intelligence firm IDTechEx has broken down the advantages and drawbacks of a variety of battery types, explaining which is best suited for various application requirements.
MOBILITY AFFORDABILITY Lead acid batteries, in short, tend to be low energy density but are a cheap and often-used technology. A range of applications in micromobility have implemented the use of lead acid batteries, including electric two- wheelers (E2W) and electric three- wheelers (E3W). Individual urban mobility
transportation modes tend to use lead acid batteries due to the low cost associated with the power supply along with their small form factor. This makes them well suited to navigating small streets in dense areas. Regions such as China, India, and Southeast Asia utilise this type of battery the most. IDTechEx found more E2W, E3W and microcars were sold compared to larger electric vehicles in 2024. The increased use of lithium-ion
phosphate (LFP) suggests the move towards larger and higher-density batteries is not universal. LFP batteries use cheaper base materials, resulting in reduced range but more affordable batteries. Chinese car manufacturer BYD, for example, has introduced battery pack designs to maximise LFP range whilst keeping the overall costs low. Bus, truck and van fleets all rely
on a low total cost of ownership. Their larger sizes allow for LFP to be integrated, removing the range penalty but conceding the disadvantage of being heavier than alternative options.
2023 electric vehicle battery demand by sector
PACKED WITH PERFORMANCE Nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistries offer the highest energy density on the market of any commercially available cells. When range is a key factor, using NMC batteries is best, says IDTechEx. Premium and performance-based cars will gravitate towards NMC batteries due to their high-performance capabilities, and as the increase of costs are not as impactful due to the already expensive nature of performance-based cars. Trucks and buses with set routes
can also require NMC batteries, as their regular trips demand energy- dense batteries to be successful. This is true for electric trains as well, especially when having to operate over long stretches of unelectrified tracks. Applications of NMC can also be extended to vehicles with weight limitations placed onto them due to the operational parameters they work within.
SUSTAINABLE POWER One of the key components of sustainability is reusability, and
therefore, batteries with prolonged cycle life are a key factor. Typically, a cycle life of 1,000 on a 350km range battery would be enough for a car, giving the vehicle a lifetime battery range of 350,000km. IDTechEx speculates this would not be enough for all applications, however. Research highlights a number
of applications where 1,000 cycles would not be enough, and it would not provide enough lifetime range to be a suitable option. Mining haul trucks require up to 1,000kWh in battery capacity due to being some of the largest land vehicles to be electrified. These trucks currently use multiple batteries across their lifetimes. This is where ultra-high cycle life chemistries become useful, such as lithium- titanate oxide (LTO).
POWERING TOMORROW According to IDTechEx, selecting the correct batteries for specific applications is important due to economic reasons, both commercially, keeping the cost of products down and allowing cheaper selling points to consumers, and also industrially, ensuring low cost of production.
Read the full report ‘Electric Vehicles across Land, Sea, and Air’ at:
www.idtechex.com 22
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