How a lithium-ion car battery works

AFP English

The lithium-ion battery used in electric cars is made up of number of individual batterie. Light and small, it recharges quickly and allows the storage of much more energy than other batteries and lasts much longer VIDEOGRAPHIC

Transcript

00:00 [Music plays]

00:08 The lithium ion battery used in electric cars

00:11 is made up of a number of individual batteries called cells.

00:15 These cells are linked to each other and controlled by an electronic circuit.

00:20 [Music plays]

00:22 A cell is made up of positive and negative electrodes

00:26 separated by a membrane and submerged in electrolyte,

00:30 a conducting liquid containing lithium ions.

00:34 [Music plays]

00:36 As for all batteries, the chemical reactions of lithium ions at the electrodes

00:40 generates a circulation of electrons between the electrodes,

00:43 an electric current, via the external circuit.

00:46 [Music plays]

00:48 The anode negative is made up of graphite powder

00:51 deposited on a thin piece of copper.

00:54 [Music plays]

00:55 The cathode positive is made up of a powder of alloys of cobalt,

01:01 nickel, manganese and lithium oxides

01:04 deposited on a thin piece of aluminium.

01:07 To generate an electric current, the lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode

01:12 where they capture the electrons.

01:14 [Music plays]

01:15 The charging phase involves the reverse action.

01:18 The lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode.

01:22 [Music plays]

01:23 Why use lithium?

01:25 The metal is light and easily releases its electrons.

01:29 It also facilitates the movement of electrons and is good for storing electricity.

01:35 [Music plays]

01:37 The lithium ion battery is light, small and recharges quickly.

01:41 It allows the storage of much more energy than other batteries and lasts much longer.

01:46 [Music plays]

01:50 [Music plays]

01:54 [Music plays]

01:58 [Music plays]

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