Types and choices of lithium batteries for electric vehicles

The power lithium battery used in new energy vehicles is different from the traditional lithium battery of mobile phones and computers, and has high requirements for total power output and continuous output capability of the battery. How new energy vehicle manufacturers choose the right lithium battery will largely determine the performance of the vehicle itself. Do you know how to compare and choose lithium batteries for electric vehicles? The following article will introduce you specifically.

Comparison and selection of types of lithium batteries for electric vehicles

Lithium batteries have four main raw materials, which are cathode materials, separators, electrolytes and anode materials in order of cost. Lithium batteries are generally classified internationally according to different positive electrode materials.

Performance battle: lithium manganate VS lithium iron phosphate

The non-power lithium battery cathode material is usually lithium cobalt oxide, and the power lithium battery cathode material is divided into two major factions: lithium manganate and lithium iron phosphate. The Japanese manufacturer is mainly responsible for lithium manganate, and several lithium manganese oxide batteries have been introduced. Electric vehicles, such as Nissan Leaf, while American and Chinese manufacturers are keen on lithium iron phosphate, A123 is the leading manufacturer of lithium iron phosphate.

lithium iron phosphate is exceptionally excellent in performance. The energy density of lithium iron phosphate as a positive electrode material is greater than that of lithium manganate (LiMn2O4: 100 mAh/g, 0.400 kWh/kgV. SLiFePO4: 150 mAh/g, 0.495 kWh /kg), and in various positive electrode materials, its internal resistance is very small, which makes the battery have a long service life, low heat generation during charging and discharging, and high safety.

However, in terms of industrial maturity, cost and consistency, lithium manganate is far superior to lithium iron phosphate. Since the lithium battery for electric vehicles is connected by dozens or even hundreds of batteries, the consistency requirement is very high, which is the most difficult to achieve with lithium iron phosphate.

The battle for cathode materials: the powers are strong, the industry's upstream and downstream environment is not optimistic

Umicore in Belgium is a large company with annual revenue of 10 billion US dollars. Its main production base is in South Korea. In 2010, it benefited from the increasing demand of South Korea's LG Chem and Samsung SDI. Umicore surpassed Japan's Nichia Chemical to become the world's largest lithium battery cathode material. Dachang has a market share of over 30%. However, the profit of lithium battery cathode material accounts for less than 10% of Umicore's total revenue.

Nichia is the world's largest LED manufacturer. Before 2010, it was the world's largest lithium battery cathode material manufacturer with a market share of over 20%. Due to the wide variety of cathode materials for lithium batteries, there are many manufacturers involved, especially Japanese manufacturers, Toda Industry, AGCSEIMI, SEIDO, Tanaka Chemical Research Institute, JFE Mining, Mitsubishi Chemical, Nitto Denko, Mitsubishi Mining, Sumitomo Osaka Cement (SUMITOMOOSAKACEMENT) Japan's chemical industry, etc., Japanese manufacturers account for about 50% of the market for cathode materials.

Chinese manufacturers are mainly Dangsheng Technology (300073, shares), Shanshan, Ruixiang, Jinhe, CITIC Guoan (000839, shares it) Meng Guoli, Bamo technology, market share of 11%. It should be pointed out that the lithium iron phosphate of the electric vehicle manufacturer BYD (002594, shares it) was purchased from Tianjin Strand. Lithium battery manufacturers that can make cathode materials are usually only Japanese manufacturers.

A wide variety, how to choose

Nowadays, almost all of the major automakers have chosen lithium manganate with high maturity. Even the best A123 of lithium iron phosphate is also awarded to LG Chem of the lithium manganate factory by GM Chevrolet. The whole vehicle manufacturer will not do experiments for lithium iron phosphate manufacturers. In the current situation of frequent vehicle recalls, the whole vehicle manufacturers are extremely cautious.

However, despite its lithium manganate battery, its technical maturity is only five years. Today's lithium battery products can be said to be "all-inclusive". Various positive and negative materials, separators and electrolytes are emerging one after another. Manufacturers are choosing specific lithium batteries. At the time, it is necessary to select according to the actual cost performance of the bidding battery. For battery manufacturers, improving battery safety, consistency and capacity is the key. In the current raw material market, people are constrained by the fact that the battery market is strong, and blindly expanding prices cannot survive.

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