Traction Batteries. EV and HEV

Publisher Summary Energy storage is the key technology that governs the development of electric vehicles (EVs). Until fuel cells can be adopted in this application, regularly predicted, and postponed, batteries are the sole electric energy storage technology available today. Pure EVs are still not widely commercialized despite the many prototypes produced over the years. However, the introduction of commercially available hybrid cars a few years ago has completely changed the picture. Large market developments are now anticipated in the short term, for which the battery is a key component. This chapter reviews the main requirements of batteries as energy storages for motive power. There are many types of vehicles that use electric power, from very large vehicles such as tramways and hybrid buses, to small ones such as forklift trucks and golf carts; all those need batteries at different levels. The focus today is on full electric and hybrid cars because of the challenges they are facing and the big stake they have in the future: how to move in a sustainable manner, saving fossil energy, and reducing emissions of CO 2 and other pollutants. Batteries play a major role here as a critical component in many respects, such as energy and power capability, life, safe use, and cost.