The biggest difference between new energy vehicles and traditional vehicles is that the core technology lies in the three powers, that is, electric drive and battery, as well as electronic control.
Batteries are fields related to mechanical industry, chemistry, and electronic control. The core of the battery is the cell, and the most critical materials of the cell are the positive electrode, the negative electrode, the separator and the electrolyte. The cathode materials are well known to the public, including lithium iron phosphate (lifepo4 battery) and lithium manganate, as well as lithium cobalt oxide and ternary and high nickel ternary. The history of automotive power batteries is not long. In 1996, the model EV-1 launched by GM used lead-acid batteries. This model is the initial architecture of modern electric vehicles. From lead-acid batteries to Japanese hybrid nickel-metal hydride batteries, to the most popular lithium batteries, the history of automotive power batteries is only more than 20 years old.
From the perspective of the car batteries configured for new energy passenger vehicles, 32 models use car batteries from 17 companies, of which 16 are battery companies and the other is Changan New Energy. It can be seen that the automotive power batteries of other passenger cars are purchased from outside, covering cells and battery packs, as well as battery management systems.
Most self-owned brand car OEMs do not have the ability to design cells and battery packs.
Although multinational auto companies do not have their own battery cells, they insist on independent design and production of automotive battery components and management systems, in order to enhance the key competitiveness of automotive power batteries. The difference from most self-owned brands is that even if they do not use this battery cell, they can still design car battery packs by changing the battery cell brand, and the key technology is still in the hands of their own companies.
Among the current automotive power batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries are about to be eliminated, and lead-acid batteries are supported by the amount of ownership. Now lithium batteries are the most important.
Digital electronic products have low safety requirements for lithium batteries. Lithium cobalt oxide batteries are most suitable for the 3C product industry. Tesla uses this kind of battery, which has strong battery life but low safety.
Lithium manganate battery has the highest market share in the automotive power battery market. Although its energy density is not as good as that of ternary lithium and lithium cobalt oxide, its other comprehensive performance levels are relatively high.
