Advanced Automotive Technology: Visions of a Super-Efficient Family Car

TABLE 3-12: Current State-of-the-Art for Batteries

(expected values in parenthesis)

Specific Power

Specific Energy W/kg @ 20% Status

a in

Types Wh/kg @ c/3 DoD mid-1994

Advanced lead acid 40 200 4

Bipolar lead acid (45) (500+) 2

Nickel cadmium^551754

Nickel iron 50 100 4

Nickel-Metal hydride^702003

Sodium sulfur 110 (130) 125 (200)^3

Sodium nickel chloride^901403

Bipolar lithium metal I I

I

sulfide (125) (190) |^2

Lithium polymer (200+) (80-100) 1 or 2

Lithium ion 100-110 200-250 1

Estimated costs

per kWh (volume

production)

125-190

175-190

500-600

400-500

400-500b

250-300

350-450

(350-450)

unknown

unknown

aStatus: 1 - ce1l for lab tests; 2- module for lab tests; 3- prototype EV battery; 4-pilot production.
bOvonic has claimed it can manufacture these batteries at substantially lower costs.

KEY: e/3 = The constant discharge rate that would drain the battery in three hours; DoD = depth of
discharge.

NOTE: Usable specific energy is different from values shown above.

SOURCE: Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc.