​There are two types of lithium-based batteries available.

1. Lithium batteries
2. Lithium-ion batteries

 
In lithium batteries, a pure lithium metallic element is used as ANODE. These types of batteries are not rechargeable.

​In lithium-ion batteries, lithium compounds are used as ANODE. These batteries are known as re-chargeable batteries. Therefore, Lithium ion batteries are considered as best than pure Lithium based batteries.
 
Lithium-ion battery (Li-ion Battery)
Li-ion batteries are secondary batteries.
The battery consists of a anode of Lithium, dissolved as ions, into a carbon.
The cathode material is made up from Lithium liberating compounds, typically the three electro-active oxide materials,

1. Lithium Cobalt-oxide (LiCoO2 )
2. Lithium Manganese-oxide (LiMn2 O4 )
3. Lithium Nickel-oxide (LiNiO2)

 
What is inside the Lithium-ion battery (Li-ion Battery)?
Li-ion cell has a four-layer structure.
A positive electrode made with Lithium Cobalt Oxide has a current collector made of thin aluminum foil – we call this the CATHODE
A negative electrode made with specialty carbon has a current collector of thin copper foil – we call this the ANODE
A SEPARATOR is a fine porous polymer film between the CATHODE and ANODE.
An ELECTROLYTE  made with lithium salt in an organic solvent. 

​“Giga factory” – This phrase describes a massive battery production facility used to produce batteries on a gigantic scale for electric vehicles and energy storage products. 
Originally it was referenced to a giant factory being built by electric car manufacturer Tesla in Nevada.
 
How would you make a Giga factory battery?
Being an extremely complex process, Gigafactory battery manufacturing involves first using raw materials which require a number of manufacturing processes to produce a finished product, the battery.
 
How big is a Giga factory?
Approximately 5.3 million square feet, covering 43 acres with multiple floors.
 
When it comes to Giga factories where are we in the UK?
To ensure we continue to supply the thousands of jobs to lead the way in electrification we need to have the manufacturing capacity to produce batteries. 
To power the next generation of electric vehicles we must have Giga factory capacity right across the UK.  Importantly, being the heaviest part of the electric vehicle battery production needs to be as close as possible to electric vehicle manufacturing sites.
 
What has the UK Government done already?
Playing an important role the Government has already invested £108m in a new battery facility in Coventry, UKBIC, UK – Battery Industrialisation Centre.   The facility will provide world leading testing facilities for new battery technology and train technicians & engineers in battery manufacturing.  The facility is envisaged as a stepping stone to a large scale battery factory for electric vehicles. 
 
How many Gigaf actories are in operation or planned?

1.  (Giga factory 1) in Storey County, Nevada, U.S
2.  (Giga factory 2) in Buffalo, New York, U.S
3.  (Giga factory 3), in China
4.  (Giga factory 4) in Brandenburg, Germany
5.  (also Cybertruck Giga factory), planned for central United States

What is an Electric Vehicle (traction) battery?
 

• A battery that stores chemical energy and then discharges it by converting the chemical energy into electric energy.  It is used to power the electric motors of the battery electric vehicle (BEV) or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). 
  
• The batteries used are usually rechargeable batteries and use a lithium ion chemistry.  These batteries are specifically designed for high ampere – hour (kilowatt -hour) capacity. 

 
Example: Nissan Leaf 24 kW Electric Vehicle
 
The Nissan Leaf 24 kW Electric Vehicle battery contains:
 

•  48 modules
  
• each with 4 pouches = cells containing anode & cathode          = 192 cells in total 24 kWh LEAF battery.

 
Each module = nominal voltage of 7.5V
 

• battery pack has a nominal voltage of 360V (= 48 x 7.5V)

 
 
What is a Battery Management System, (BMS)?
 

• Most traction batteries are looked after by a device called a Battery Management System, (BMS).
  
• The purpose of the (BMS) is to protect the battery. 

How?
 

• The (BMS) looks at the state of charge and the operating data from each cell in the battery pack.
  
• If any cell is going to overcharge, over-discharge, or is overheating then the BMS will shut down the battery. 
• It will also do this if it senses any faults within the battery cells..

What is it?

A regenerative braking system is an energy recovery mechanism which slows a vehicle by converting its kinetic energy into a form which can be used immediately.
 
It is used on vehicles to recoup some of the energy that is lost while the vehicle is stopping.
 
All electric vehicles have some form of regenerative braking. This uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle which also puts some electricity back into the vehicle’s battery. This not only makes braking more efficient but it also places less wear and tear on the brakes which means less brake dust which is good for the air we breathe.
 
With an electric vehicle, you will still need to maintain your brake pads however you will notice that this is done less frequently than for a petrol or diesel.

Recap
 
Just to remind us all, Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, (EVSE) facilitates the charge for the operation of the electric vehicle, (BEV) or (PHEV).
 
Included in the (EVSE) you will find plugs, sockets, conductors and power outlets which allow communication between the charging equipment and the electric vehicle, (BEV) or (PHEV).
 
 
So, how quickly can you charge your electric vehicle, (BEV) or (PHEV)?
 
The length of time it takes for an electric vehicle’s battery to recharge is very much determined by how many kilowatts (kW) the charging point can provide and how many kilowatts (kW) the electric vehicle receive. 
 
The higher the power, (wattage) the faster the charge.
 
As we already know there are 3 different rates:
 

1. 3kW Standard slow charging (6 - 9 hours)
2. 7 - 22kW Fast charging (2- 4 hours)
3. 43 - 50kW Rapid charging, (20 – 30 minutes)

 
Question, do different electric vehicles have different connectors?
 
The answer is yes, not all electric vehicles have the same types of charging connector

​The electric vehicle is supplied with at least one charging cable

• connects the electric vehicle to slow and fast charge points
• either a UK 3 pin plug or a “Type 2” plug (industry standard) fitted
• car-side connector is model specific

​Rapid chargers and high power chargers

• fitted with captive cables and connectors
• which plug directly into the EV
• due to the high powers being transferred