As the key technology powering electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, lithium-ion batteries are playing a key role in the clean energy transition.
A lithium-ion battery can be categorized into several types, each with its own pros and cons and specifications.
Six Main Lithium-ion battery types
A lithium-ion battery can be classified as one of six different types based on its chemical composition.
Graphite is the most common material used in the anodes of most lithium-ion batteries. It is usually the mineral composition of the cathode that differs between battery chemistries.
Battery cathodes contain lithium and other minerals such as nickel, manganese, cobalt, and iron. The composition of the cathode determines a battery’s capacity, power, performance, cost, safety, and lifespan.
Another option is second-life batteries, batteries that have reached the end of their optimal performance in EVs but can still be repurposed for other uses. These batteries retain significant capacity, typically around 70-80%, making them suitable for energy storage solutions, backup power systems, and renewable energy integration.
Now that we know what lithium-ion cathodes are, let’s examine six major types.
1: Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)
Nickel is typically found in large quantities in NMC cathodes, which leads to an increase in energy density and longer ranges in electric vehicles. As nickel can be unstable, manganese and cobalt are added to improve thermal stability and safety in batteries with high nickel content.
In addition to NMC811 (consisting of 80% nickel and 10% manganese), NMC532, and NMC622, several combinations of NMC have seen commercial success.
2: Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA)
The nickel-based NMC battery and NCA batteries share many advantages, including their high energy density and specific power. However, NCA cathodes are not as safe as Li-ion cathodes, are more expensive, and are typically used only in high-performance electric vehicles. Instead of manganese, NCA cathodes use aluminum to increase stability.
3: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
As LFP batteries contain iron and phosphate instead of nickel and cobalt, they are generally more cost-effective than nickel-based batteries, although they contribute less specific energy, making them better suited to shorter-range or standard EVs. LFP also has a long lifespan, making it suitable for energy storage systems since it is considered one of the safest chemistries.
4: Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO)
There are some drawbacks to LCO batteries, including a relatively short lifespan, low thermal stability, and a limited specific power. Since these batteries can deliver relatively small amounts of power for long periods of time in low-load applications like smartphones and laptops, they are a popular choice for low-load applications like smartphones and laptops.
5: Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO)
As well as offering enhanced safety and fast charging and discharging capabilities, LMO batteries also have manganese spinel characteristics. LMO cathode materials are typically blended with NMC in EVs, where the LMO part provides high currents when accelerating, and the NMC part gives the vehicle longer driving ranges.
6: Lithium Titanate (LTO)
With LTO batteries, the anode surface is made of lithium and titanium oxides, rather than the cathode composition, which makes a difference in the other chemistries. There is excellent safety and performance with these batteries under extreme temperatures, but they are relatively expensive and have a low capacity, which limits their use at large scales.
Here is the complete guide about ev batteries.
Which Batteries Dominate the EV Market?
What type of lithium-ion battery dominates the EV market, and how will it change in the future? Now that we know about the six main types of lithium-ion batteries, how will the market change?
Sodium-Ion Batteries are also another type of battery which is used by many ev owners. Here is the Sodium-Ion Batteries vs lithium-ion battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which type of lithium-ion battery is used in electric vehicles?
A lithium-ion battery for an electric vehicle is generally composed of either a lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP) or a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) battery. In comparison to other lithium-ion variants, these types have a high energy density, a longer lifetime, and improved safety features.
2. What are the 3 types of batteries that have been used in electric cars?
Batteries used in electric cars historically have been divided into three types
Lead-acid batteries:
In comparison with newer technologies, they are heavy, have limited energy density, and have a short lifespan.They were the earliest types used but have mostly been phased out because of their low energy density and short lifespan.
Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries:
It is less common to find NiMH batteries in modern pure electric vehicles (EVs). NiMH batteries have better energy density and longevity than lead-acid batteries. They are widely used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
Lithium-ion batteries:
Compared to lead-acid and NiMH batteries, these batteries are currently most prevalent in electric cars because they have higher energy density, lighter weight, and longer lifespans.
3. What are the different types of lithium-ion batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries come in several types, including:
Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2 or LCO):
It has a high energy density, making it an ideal material for consumer electronics, such as smartphones and laptops, but is less preferred for electric vehicles due to safety concerns.
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP):
The longer lifespan, improved thermal stability, and enhanced safety of these components make them popular for electric vehicle applications.
Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO2 or NMC):
Among the most widely used batteries in electric vehicles, NMC batteries offer an excellent balance between energy density, lifespan, and cost.
Lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4 or LMO):
For applications such as power tools and some electric vehicles that need rapid charging and discharging, LMO batteries provide a high power output.
Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO2 or NCA):
The NCA battery is similar to NMC batteries, but has a higher cobalt content, so it provides excellent energy density. However, it is a less common option in electric vehicles due to safety concerns and costs.
4. What lithium is used in EV batteries?
There are a number of lithium compounds used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), including lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO2 or NMC), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO2 or NCA), among others. Battery cathode materials such as these provide the necessary electrochemical properties for storing and releasing energy.
