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Battery Characteristics Part1

This document provides an introduction to battery terminology used to describe, classify, and compare batteries for electric vehicles. It defines key terms like state of charge, depth of discharge, voltage, internal resistance, C-rates, and classifications for battery types. The document explains that batteries consist of individual cells organized into modules and packs and that manufacturers specify nominal and maximum battery characteristics.

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235 views8 pages

Battery Characteristics Part1

This document provides an introduction to battery terminology used to describe, classify, and compare batteries for electric vehicles. It defines key terms like state of charge, depth of discharge, voltage, internal resistance, C-rates, and classifications for battery types. The document explains that batteries consist of individual cells organized into modules and packs and that manufacturers specify nominal and maximum battery characteristics.

Uploaded by

JollyZoo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Battery

characteristics
 A battery is a device that converts chemical energy into
electrical energy and vice versa. This summary provides an
introduction to the terminology used to describe, classify,
and compare batteries for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and
electric vehicles. It provides a basic background, defines the
variables used to characterize battery operating conditions,
and describes the manufacturer specifications used to
characterize battery nominal and maximum characteristics.
Battery basics

 Cell, modules, and packs – Hybrid and electric vehicles


have a high voltage battery pack that consists of individual
modules and cells organized in series and parallel. A cell is
the smallest, packaged form a battery can take and is
generally on the order of one to six volts. A module consists
of several cells generally connected in either series or
parallel. A battery pack is then assembled by connecting
modules together, again either in series or parallel.
 Battery Classifications – Not all batteries are created equal,
even batteries of the same chemistry. The main trade-off in
battery development is between power and energy: batteries
can be either high-power or high-energy, but not both. Often
manufacturers will classify batteries using these categories.
Other common classifications are High Durability, meaning
that the chemistry has been modified to provide higher
battery life at the expense of power and energy.
Battery conditions
 State of Charge (SOC)(%) – An expression of the present battery capacity as
a percentage of maximum capacity. SOC is generally calculated using current
integration to determine the change in battery capacity over time.
 • Depth of Discharge (DOD) (%) – The percentage of battery capacity that
has been discharged expressed as a percentage of maximum capacity. A
discharge to at least 80 % DOD is referred to as a deep discharge.
 • Terminal Voltage (V) – The voltage between the battery terminals with load
applied. Terminal voltage varies with SOC and discharge/charge current.
 • Open-circuit voltage (V) – The voltage between the battery terminals with
no load applied. The open-circuit voltage depends on the battery state of
charge, increasing with state of charge.
 • Internal Resistance – The resistance within the battery, generally different
for charging and discharging, also dependent on the battery state of charge.
As internal resistance increases, the battery efficiency decreases and thermal
stability is reduced as more of the charging energy is converted into heat.
 C- and E- rates – In describing batteries, discharge current is
often expressed as a C-rate in order to normalize against
battery capacity, which is often very different between
batteries. A C-rate is a measure of the rate at which a battery
is discharged relative to its maximum capacity. A 1C rate
means that the discharge current will discharge the entire
battery in 1 hour. For a battery with a capacity of 100 Amp-
hrs, this equates to a discharge current of 100 Amps. A 5C
rate for this battery would be 500 Amps, and a C/2 rate
would be 50 Amps. Similarly, an E-rate describes the
discharge power. A 1E rate is the discharge power to
discharge the entire battery in 1 hour.
 Secondary and Primary Cells – Although it may not sound
like it, batteries for hybrid, plug-in, and electric vehicles are
all secondary batteries. A primary battery is one that can not
be recharged. A secondary battery is one that is
rechargeable.
References:

 A Guide to Understanding Battery Specification; MIT


Electric Vehicle Team, December 2008

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