Lithium - the Key to Practicality

Advances in Lithium battery technology have helped to make EVs a practical solution for the new millennium.  You’re already using Lithium batteries - in your cell phones, laptops, and other household consumer electronic devices. Lithium is the third lightest element on the periodic table, and batteries made out of Lithium have a high energy density and can store a lot of energy without adding a lot of weight - a big advantage for EVs and the drivers who are looking for a practical zero-emission solution.

There are several different Lithium battery chemistries being developed and manufactured - among them lithium iron phosphate, lithium titanate, and lithium manganese - and while each chemistry claims its differentiators, Lithium technology in general has made advancements worthy of practical, long-range electric vehicles.

The challenge today is to produce highly energy efficient batteries at a low cost. Although lithium ion batteries are highly efficient, they’re currently costlier than the lead acid starter batteries found in gas cars. But it’s expected that federal incentives offered to both manufacturers and consumers will help defray the cost of making and buying batteries meant for EVs, at least during the early rollout years. As volume increases, the cost of lithium batteries is anticipated to come down, making EVs even more practical for everyday consumers.

Today’s lithium technology can reasonably take EVs up to 240 miles on a single charge. With prominent research labs, manufacturers, developers, and industry-partnerships honing the technology, and infrastructure systems developers like AV preparing for widespread public infrastructure, practical zero-emission transportation is becoming a reality for the majority of the driving population.  On another note, lithium batteries are recyclable, making EVs more environmentally friendly for the entire life of the vehicle and the battery.