We are indebted to Alessandro Volta, for making the first electrochemical cell. His zinc and copper battery with a salt water electrolyte and paved the way for much of the portable power that we rely upon extensively throughout our lives. Not long after his inventing of the battery came the world's first electric vehicle.
The lead acid battery has been around since 1859 and makes up a large portion of battery sales today. The weight of the battery is its biggest drawback, but they can produce a lot of power for their weight and cost. Lead acid batteries have been used in stationary power, as starter batteries for internal combustion engines and as traction batteries in electric vehicles.
In the early 1900's Nickel-Iron batteries were used in vehicles and in stationary power systems. This type of cell produces low voltage, is quite heavy and is still used today in solar backup systems and in some other applications where weight and low charge/discharge rates are acceptable. One of the greatest aspects of this type of battery is its lifespan, which is up to 30-50 years.
Nickel-Cadmium cells were first developed in the early 1900's. With higher energy-density than lead acid batteries, they were favored in certain applications and have found their way into hand-held electronics, power tools, electric vehicles, starting circuits and standby power.
Nickel-Metal Hydride cells came into being in the late 60's and interest in them began developing in the 70's. Being very similar to NiCad batteries, they made their way into use in portable applications, ranging from satellites to electric vehicles to portable music players. They still prove valuable in some of these applications.
Lithium Iron Phosphate cells have enabled an explosive growth in electric vehicles (and other applications) since their development in 1996, owing to their safety and higher energy-density compared to other chemistries. Problems with LiFePO4 cells include balancing, over charging and over discharging cells; there is a lack of proper products to help keep the batteries healthy. However, some LiFePO4 cells are very high quality and require virtually no management outside of the charger's programming (to stop charging at the right voltage) and low voltage cutoff circuits that often are built into the products using the cells.
Lithium Ion cells were first developed in the 70's and paved the way for many similar Lithium-based cells to come into existence. Li Ion cells are prone to thermal runaway, which, as can be seen on Youtube, can be fun or problematic. Despite the problems with thermal runaway, the cells have transformed radio controlled toy markets, electric vehicle markets and mobile communications.
Lithium-Sulfur batteries are a recent development (probably post-2007) and are not yet ready for consumers. They are a likely successor of Lithium Ion and Iron Phosphate cells due to their higher energy-density and lower cost. These cells depart in the way they are constructed in the type of electrolyte used, which is solid instead of the usual liquid. We may see these cells hitting the market in 3-5 years, which will enable yet another boom in electric vehicle production.
Refillable batteries are an awesome new development and great departure from typical electrochemical cell constructions. Instead of recharging batteries like we do now, researchers at MIT are developing a way to change out depleted electrodes and electrolyte in a liquid form. Though many electrolytes used in typical cells is liquid, the electrodes themselves are solid and not easily replaced, which is why we recharge them. This new cell type could lead to a major transformation of the way we use batteries. Gas stations could be retrofitted to hold tanks full of the charged slurry necessary to replace the slurry in a consumer's depleted battery slurry tank.
In short, batteries are getting lighter, easier and more capable to filling the needs of an increasingly more mobile world.
The lead acid battery has been around since 1859 and makes up a large portion of battery sales today. The weight of the battery is its biggest drawback, but they can produce a lot of power for their weight and cost. Lead acid batteries have been used in stationary power, as starter batteries for internal combustion engines and as traction batteries in electric vehicles.
In the early 1900's Nickel-Iron batteries were used in vehicles and in stationary power systems. This type of cell produces low voltage, is quite heavy and is still used today in solar backup systems and in some other applications where weight and low charge/discharge rates are acceptable. One of the greatest aspects of this type of battery is its lifespan, which is up to 30-50 years.
Nickel-Cadmium cells were first developed in the early 1900's. With higher energy-density than lead acid batteries, they were favored in certain applications and have found their way into hand-held electronics, power tools, electric vehicles, starting circuits and standby power.
Nickel-Metal Hydride cells came into being in the late 60's and interest in them began developing in the 70's. Being very similar to NiCad batteries, they made their way into use in portable applications, ranging from satellites to electric vehicles to portable music players. They still prove valuable in some of these applications.
Lithium Iron Phosphate cells have enabled an explosive growth in electric vehicles (and other applications) since their development in 1996, owing to their safety and higher energy-density compared to other chemistries. Problems with LiFePO4 cells include balancing, over charging and over discharging cells; there is a lack of proper products to help keep the batteries healthy. However, some LiFePO4 cells are very high quality and require virtually no management outside of the charger's programming (to stop charging at the right voltage) and low voltage cutoff circuits that often are built into the products using the cells.
Lithium Ion cells were first developed in the 70's and paved the way for many similar Lithium-based cells to come into existence. Li Ion cells are prone to thermal runaway, which, as can be seen on Youtube, can be fun or problematic. Despite the problems with thermal runaway, the cells have transformed radio controlled toy markets, electric vehicle markets and mobile communications.
Lithium-Sulfur batteries are a recent development (probably post-2007) and are not yet ready for consumers. They are a likely successor of Lithium Ion and Iron Phosphate cells due to their higher energy-density and lower cost. These cells depart in the way they are constructed in the type of electrolyte used, which is solid instead of the usual liquid. We may see these cells hitting the market in 3-5 years, which will enable yet another boom in electric vehicle production.
Refillable batteries are an awesome new development and great departure from typical electrochemical cell constructions. Instead of recharging batteries like we do now, researchers at MIT are developing a way to change out depleted electrodes and electrolyte in a liquid form. Though many electrolytes used in typical cells is liquid, the electrodes themselves are solid and not easily replaced, which is why we recharge them. This new cell type could lead to a major transformation of the way we use batteries. Gas stations could be retrofitted to hold tanks full of the charged slurry necessary to replace the slurry in a consumer's depleted battery slurry tank.
In short, batteries are getting lighter, easier and more capable to filling the needs of an increasingly more mobile world.
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