There are three main types of electric batteries used in cars. These are: the lithium-ion, the lead-acid and the nickel metal hydride. But how do you define a car battery ? A car battery is a device used for storing chemical energy that is converted into electricity to power a car.
Invented in 1859, the lead-acid car batteries are the oldest type of rechargeable batteries that are still in use. They are cheap and since that have been around for such a long time, they are easy to use. They have been used in all types of cars including electric cars. Lead-acid batteries got their name from the combination of sulfuric acid and lead electrodes that are used in these batteries to generate electricity. Lead-acid car batteries are examples of wet-cell batteries. The disadvantage of lead-acid car batteries is that they produce dangerous gases and if they are overcharged, they can explode.
Nickel metal hydride batteries on the other hand were produced in the 1980s. These car batteries do not have any toxic metals which makes them easy to recycle. They are relatively small batteries with a high energy density.
About a decade later after the invention of the nickel metal hydride batteries, the lithium-ion batteries were produced in the 1990s. These batteries are similar to the nickel metal hydride batteries in that they also contain a high energy density but unlike most batteries, they do not lose their charge when they are not in use. These batters are light and do not require much maintenance which is why they are also being used in electronic devices. So far, these batters are the closest manufactures have come in developing a perfect rechargeable battery which is why they are the best candidate for providing power to electric cars.
So far, the greatest challenge with electric car batteries is recharging them. Some of the main questions that come with the use of rechargeable electric batteries are: how are they recharged, where can they be recharged, can they be recharged by car users at home or do they need to be recharged by professionals? These are all questions that need to be taken into consideration when pondering the use of electric car batteries.