Lithium-ion Battery Technology

Lithium-ion battery technology is a modern type of electricity storage that is featured in most modern EVs and PHEVs. They feature both high energy density and high duty cycles which makes them attractive for use in vehicles.

What technology is used in lithium-ion batteries?

Lithium-ion uses the reversible intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically conducting solids to store energy. This allows lithium-ion batteries to be both recyclable and also lightweight for their energy density.

What battery technology is Tesla using?

Tesla uses Lithium-ion battery technology to power their vehicles. Every model from the Roadster released in 2006 to Tesla's latest 2024 models such as the new Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck have used Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology.

Is lithium-ion the best car battery technology?

Lithium ion is currently the best "Mass-produced" battery technology for vehicles. There are new battery technologies such as solid-state batteries which promise both higher density, lower weight and greater cycles. However, these technologies haven't proven to be able to be produced at a large scale and haven't passed the myriad safety and temperature testing to be safe for use.

Do lithium-ion car batteries work in the cold?

Yes, lithium-ion batteries work in the cold but they will discharge energy at a faster rate than normal.

Do lithium-ion car batteries degrade?

Yes, lithium-ion batteries will degrade over time. Luckily due to advances in battery management and software, most car battery degradation will take a long time with most car batteries only losing on average 12% of range over 5-10 years.