Abstract:

This paper presented comprehensive discussions and insightful evaluations of both conventional electric vehicle (EV) batteries (such as lead-acid, nickel-based, lithium-ion batteries, etc.) and the state-of-the-art battery technologies (such as all-solid-state, silicon-based, lithium-sulphur, metal-air batteries, etc.). Battery major component materials, operating characteristics, theoretical models, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life management were thoroughly reviewed. Different from other reviews focusing on theoretical studies, this review emphasized the key aspects of battery technologies, commercial applications, and lifecycle management. This article thoroughly discussed the useful battery managing technologies such as health prediction, charging and discharging, and thermal runaway prevention. Two novel hexagon radar charts of all-round evaluations of most reigning and potential EV battery technologies were created to predict the development trend of the EV battery technologies. It showed that lithium-ion batteries (3.9 points) would be still the dominant product for the current commercial EV power battery market in the short term. However, cutting-edge technologies such as an all-solid-state battery (3.55 points) and silicon-based battery (3.3 points) are highly likely to be the next-generation EV onboard batteries with higher specific power and better safety performance.