Questions and answers about electric car batteries

An element that is becoming increasingly prominent in the automotive industry is the battery of electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars. Cars such as the various models of Tesla or the Porsche Taycan, for example, use them and need them. For that reason, many doubts and questions arise about them. We are going to try to answer some of them in this article, thanks to the help of ARVAL, which has compiled several of them and answered them.

How does a battery work?

First, the basics. A battery is an electricity storage system. The battery converts the electricity that enters it through a chemical process and stores it. When the device it is connected to (regardless of the size of the battery or the element it powers) begins to draw on it, it releases that energy. Depending on its composition and size, it may have more or less power or capacity.

What metals are used in batteries?

Today’s batteries for electric cars use six metals: cobalt, nickel, manganese, lithium, aluminium and copper. Of these, copper is the one present in the greatest quantity and is used as the negative terminal. In addition to these metals, graphite is usually used. Batteries can be recycled for the most part and those metals recovered for future use.

Why do batteries lose performance over time?

Batteries suffer a loss of performance that causes them to store less and less energy. The reason lies in the secondary reactions that take place at the battery’s terminals, where the original materials gradually change their composition and structure. Another cause is the physical degradation of the electrodes, which accumulate cracks that cause a loss of connectivity between them.

How long does a battery last?

The charge cycles of batteries are the number of times the battery is charged and discharged. Over time and due to the causes you have read about above, the battery’s capacity falls. Manufacturers generally consider a battery’s useful life to end when, in a single charge cycle, it reaches only 80% of its capacity. Such batteries are no longer useful for powering an electric car. However, those batteries can have a second life in less demanding applications.

Can batteries be repaired rather than replaced?

Some batteries can recover their functionality by replacing a component, depending on the type of battery. Where possible, that element can be replaced and the battery will regain its full functionality.

Does fast charging damage batteries?

To charge batteries it is necessary to follow the instructions of the manufacturer or the battery assembler. They will supply the most suitable charger, which will charge the battery optimally. Fast chargers are useful for certain situations, but many batteries cannot withstand the very high charging levels they experience with these chargers.

Can batteries that have reached the end of their useful life be recycled?

Batteries that have reached the end of their useful life can be reused to store electricity for other devices. When they are withdrawn, they go to a recycling company, which extracts all their components so they can be practically reused in other applications.