They are everywhere. In video game consoles, in the device from which you are reading this text, and yes, also in cars. We are talking about batteries. They are one of the main components of electric and hybrid vehicles, so it is common for many users to Doubts arise about its operation. To address these questions, an expert from the Test Center Energy, a pioneering Seat battery research and development center, answers five key questions about batteries.
–What are batteries made of? “The technology we use at the Volkswagen Group is based on lithium ion, specifically on the chemical combination of nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC)”, explains Francesc Sabaté, head of the Test Center Energy (TCE). These elements form cells, the minimum energy storage units, which facilitate charging. “The cells are grouped into modules that, together in a pack and together with the control electronics, the cooling system and the casings, create the final battery, ready to be assembled in the vehicle,” adds Sabaté.
–How is the battery of an electric and a hybrid different? The answer lies in the energy storage capacity. “In the electric vehicle, as it does not have a combustion engine as in the hybrid, we need the battery to have more capacity to travel the same distance,” says the engineer. This translates into an increase in cells: “The battery of a hybrid has around 100 cells, while that of an electric one has about 300.”
–What is its shelf life? “It depends on how the car is used: the frequency of use, the temperatures to which it is exposed or the number of charge cycles,” answers Sabaté. And he adds: “In the case of our vehicles, thanks to the intense tests to which we subject the batteries, we ensure a minimum of 160,000 kilometers or 8 years of service life guarantee.” This testing includes extreme weather conditions and modes of use that continually push batteries to the limit.
–How can you extend your life? The key lies in keeping the vehicle in the best possible condition: “It is advisable to minimize the number of fast charges, because that way we prevent the battery temperature from rising too high,” he explains. “Keeping its state of charge between 40% and 80% also helps extend its useful life beyond the minimum warranty criteria,” adds the Seat engineer.
–Do they have a second life? In electric vehicles, once they have reached 160,000 km or after 8 years, the state of health of the battery is around 80% of its capacity. “This implies that in the daily use of the car we can experience a reduction in its autonomy and, therefore, in the distance that we can travel with it after a charge”, indicates Sabaté. “But it does not mean that this battery is not more useful, since that 80% of capacity can be used in other applications that require less power, such as static energy storage.” This new function guarantees that the same battery can be reused and thus extend its life.