Tex 5 A. Unlocking the full potential of lithium-ion battery technology

by Glenn Denomme

1. Lithium-ion batteries are helping to usher in a new era of transportation, allowing automakers to bring new hybrid-electric, plug-in hybrid-electric, and battery elec­tric vehicles to market. Additionally, ad­vancements in certain battery chemistries have enabled engineers to design and develop a number of other cutting-edge systems using lithium-ion technology be­yond the electrified drivetrain. The next-generation applica­tions boost fuel economy and enhance overall vehicle performance, they pres­ent engineering challenges in battery tech­nology.

2. Certain lithium-ion battery chemistries can be implemented in start-stop systems to replace existing lead acid designs. Some automakers are de­signing vehicles with two lead acid bat­teries, but this adds weight and decreases fuel efficiency, so it is proving to be an impractical solution. Lithium-ion offers an attractive third op­tion—depending on the chemistry, a sin­gle lithium-ion system can replace both lead acid batteries, providing cleaner, more reliable performance in a package that is about one-half of the weight. Lithium-ion systems also offer a far greater charge acceptance rate.

3. The engineering challenge, though, is how to integrate these advanced lithium-ion battery systems to maximize their full potential while ensuring compatibility with existing vehicle electronic design. With savvy systems engineering, communication and monitoring intelligence can be integrated directly into the lithium-ion battery pack, providing auto­makers with an advanced start-stop system that does not disrupt the normal op­erations of the vehicle's electronics. This start-stop function is just one ex­ample of how lithium-ion batteries can enhance existing automotive design. A battery must respond quickly to power demands from any electronic component without impacting the performance of the other systems in the vehicle.

4. As automakers face tre­mendous pressure to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles -to meet consumer demand for cleaner, more en­vironmentally friendly cars and trucks— lithium-ion battery technology offers sig­nificant engineering advantages for im­proving existing systems. The value of lithium-ion will offer fully integrated electronics. Leading automakers are starting to integrate lithium-ion re­placements for lead acid batteries into their designs.

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Exercise 2. Match the right and left items.

Exercise 3.Complete the following sentencesusing the words in the box:

1. Extreme cold and high heat reduce………., and the battery must be brought into moderate temperature conditions before charging.

2.A ………….battery technology developed at the University of Colorado that could allow tomorrow’s electric vehicles to travel twice as far on a charge is now closer to becoming a commercial reality.

3. In order to avoid problems with electromagnetic interference, Extensive Electromagnetic ………….. and components of vehicles are being developed.

4. …….. .have changed little since the 1880's although improvements in materials and manufacturing methods continue to bring improvements in energy density, life and reliability.

5. There are two specific factors that you need to look at when ………….The first is to maximize the power output of the engine and the second one is to consider the fuel economy of the vehicle.

Exercise 4.Find the answers to the questions among the right items.