Powering Your Electric Vehicle

Abstract

Lithium is a vital battery component, and lithium-ion batteries are especially interesting because in addition to being rechargeable, they present a high-energy density and low self-discharge, which means they last longer per charge and have an extended life. The impact of such batteries, commercialized since the 1990s, has been so significant that their inventors were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019. Lithium-ion batteries are used in a variety of applications, from small consumer electronics (e.g., cell phones, notebooks) and implantable medical devices to large civil and military equipment (e.g., aircrafts, vessels). Lithium-ion batteries are also widely used in electric vehicles. With the steady decrease in battery prices, such vehicles will become more affordable and ubiquitous, further increasing the demand for lithium.