What are the different types of EV batteries?

Your EV battery questions answered!

We get a lot of questions about electric vehicle (EV) batteries, so here we break down the key facts, from what a “kWh” actually means, to the expected lifespan and what happens once they run their cycle.

What is a Kilowatt-hour?

A Kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit used to measure the capacity of a battery – meaning the amount of electricity it can store. The larger your battery (more kWh), the more energy your EV battery can hold, which generally translates to a longer range.

However, range is also impacted by other factors, such as the vehicle’s weight and its efficiency, which can be down to differences in battery density (how much energy it can actually store), vehicle aerodynamics, or external temperatures. Battery efficiency is also affected by climate control and which mode the car is used in (Eco/Normal/Sport etc).

What are the types of EV batteries?

Did you know that electric vehicles (EVs) have different types of batteries, just like cars have different types of engines? Well, they do – and different types of batteries have various properties.

Most EVs come with a Lithium-Ion battery, which is much like the battery in your smartphone – although there are three different kinds used in EVs.

• Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) batteries have a high energy density, and are used in many EVs such as BMWs and Hyundais.
• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) have a slightly lower energy density, which means they hold less charge – however, they require less materials to build and are therefore cheaper. LFP batteries are found more often in budget EVs.
• Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide (NCA) batteries have the highest energy density, making them great for long-range driving. However, they cost more than NMC or LFP batteries, so they’re used most in premium EVs.

Some Plug-in Hybrids use Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries, although they are rare in fully electric vehicles. They’re durable and resistant to overcharging, but they’re larger and heavier than Lithium-Ion batteries and have a lower energy-density.

There are also two types of batteries in development that you could see in EVs of the future:

• Solid-State batteries have an energy density that is higher than Lithium-Ion batteries, as well as potential for even faster charging and a longer lifespan. They’re also free of any liquid electrolytes, which reduces fire risks. Currently, Solid-state batteries are in a trial phase, and you could expect to see them in premium EVs by the end of the 2020s.
• Sodium-Ion batteries are still in the development phase, meaning they are slightly further away. They have a lower energy-density than Lithium-Ion batteries, but the lack of lithium or cobalt makes them cheaper – and the abundance of Sodium makes them more sustainable too.

Are EV batteries made in the UK?

The UK has one operational ‘gigafactory’, which is based in Sunderland, with £1bn of funding secured for a second facility. Together, the factories will be able to produce EV batteries totalling up to 30-35 GWh of storage annually.

Work has also begun on a 620-acre gigafactory based in Somerset by Tata Group, which is due to be operational by the end of 2026. This factory alone will produce 40 GWh each year.

What’s the lifespan of an EV battery?

An EV battery has four main life cycles:

• Production
• Active use
• Secondary use
• Recycling or disposal

The production process of an EV battery can take several months, as it includes mining and refining raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and graphite; with different materials used in different types of batteries.

The second stage of an EV battery is active use – meaning, of course, fitted in a vehicle. Depending on the type of battery, charging and driving factors, an EV battery can be expected to last 10-15 years.

After the active use cycle is over, an EV battery will move onto its second use cycle, which can include home or grid energy storage. This gentler use cycle can be expected to get another 10-15 years of use out of an EV battery.

Finally, after the active and secondary usage cycles, an EV battery is ready to be recycled. At the moment, as much as 98% of an EV battery can be recycled, and efforts are being made to create a full recycling process, creating a circular supply chain to reduce raw material demand and emissions. And many car batteries often go onto a second life such as home energy storage systems or grid-scale energy storage.