Battery

An electric battery is a device that transform chemical energy into electric energy in both directions. It serves to store electric energy by transforming electric energy into chemical energy when it is relatively easy/cheap and release (by transforming back chemical energy into electric energy) it when it is relatively expensive or more needed.

Battery are part of battery energy storage system (BESS): a combination of a battery, power inverters, battery management system (BMS) and energy management system EMS. Other components may include: thermal regulation system,fire protection, electric protection, transformers.

History of batteries

Lead-acid battery, the first rechargeable battery, was invented in 1859 by the French physicist Gaston Planté. In 1881, the French chemical engineer, Camille Alphonse Faure developed an improved version of lead-acid battery.

In 1866, French electrical engineer developped a non-rechargeable battery with a manganese dioxide cathode and zinc anode.

In the 1990s, Sony commercialized Lithium Ion recheargeable batteries.

Chemistries

Common cathode chemistries

• LFP: lithium iron phosphate
• LTO
• NCA: lithium nickel Cobalt aluminum oxide

• NMC: lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide. Variant include: NMC111, NMC622, NMC811
• SIB aka NIB: sodium ion
• VRB aka VFB: vanadium (redox) flow

In 2022, LFP, NCA and NMC622 were among the most common chemistries used for electric cars in the European Union [JRC 1]

Other chemistries:

• lead acid
• lithium air
• nick cadmium
• NiMh
• molten salt

Parameters

Key parameters for a battery:

• rated power [kW]
• rated capacity [kWh]
• C-rate
• depth of discharge
• state of charge

Other parameters

• self-discharge
• cycle life (cycle lifetime) and aeging
• cost
• carbon footprint
• impact on critical materials
• impact on local economy
• safety

Parameters for a BESS:

• round-trip efficiency

Bankrupt companies

• Northvolt, US Chapter 11 in 2024 and bankrupcy in 2025 in Sweden.

Other companies

• Gotion High-Tech

Regulations

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EU:

• battery directive

Standards

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Safety

• IEC 62619:2022, Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries, for use in industrial applications, link IEC
• UL 1642, see UL 1642 Lithium Batteries Standard: An Overview
• UL 1973
• UL 9540A, UL 9540A Test Method for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) link UL

Safety

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References

• [JRC 1] JRC, Clean Energy Technology Observatory: Batteries for Energy Storage in the European Union – 2022 Status Report on Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains and Markets, 2022