Advanced lithium ion cells with lithium manganese spinel

For electric vehicle propulsion, a number of alternative concepts exist. On e approach is the so-called full electric vehicle (EV), which is exclusivel y driven by a battery. Another alternative is the hybrid vehicle concept, w here a combustion engine and a battery are used for propulsion. Both concep ts differ in the requirements for the battery used. This leads to the fact that for each application a special type of battery has to be tailored, res ulting in a high-energy battery for the EV application and a high-power bat tery for hybrid vehicles. Both requirements, the high-energy and the high-p ower requirement, can be met by lithium ion batteries. With lithium mangane se oxide and carbon as active materials, high-energy cells were realised wi th an energy density of 115 Wh/kg and a specific pulse power of 500 W/kg, a s well as high-power cells with an energy density of 60 Wh/kg and a specifi c pulse power of 850 W/kg. Both types of cells show good cycle life and goo d performance at low temperatures. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All right s reserved.