Experts should put out more research data on electric car fires, recently reported around the world, before people start writing a requiem for lithium-ion battery. Yes, a few EVs have burst into flames after battery explosions. These incidences have not alarmed experts that is why they have not made adverse comments.
Car users would know electric car makers install batteries and put the car through strict safety tests. They test the car for crash, whether watertight, immersion, and combustion test. They pass the electric car after a series of industry standard tests.
What makes the Lithium-ion battery special? They are far more efficient compared with Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. They produce almost three and a half times more voltage. They can do this because Li-ion have high density. They have a normal voltage of 3.7 volt per cell and maximum of 4.2 volts.
Most electric car makers use Li-ion batteries because of their high energy per unit mass relative to other electrical energy storage systems. They also have a high power-to-weight ratio, high energy efficiency, good high-temperature performance, and low self-discharge.
Many users and experts say Li-ion batteries are not safe use at higher temperatures. As in smartphones that overheat, Li-ion batteries can explode and catch fire.
In India, four e-scooters powered by Li-Ion burst into flames, according to Indian media reports. Four or even a dozen scooters and e-cars bursting into flames could be stray cases not endemic to inherent battery flaws.
According to a private American auto insurance company, data show electric cars are less prone to fire than other vehicles. Hybrid cars are the most dangerous, followed by petrol vehicles.
In his article published by Forbes.com, contributing author Neil Winton, says, “Any firm conclusions on fire risks are not yet possible. There is not enough data to decide that pure electric cars are more prone to spontaneous fire than internal combustion engine ones, or more likely to burst into flames after an accident.”
To understand whether Li-ion batteries are safe or unsafe we should know how a lithium battery works. Li-ion battery stores energy and releases it as lithium ions travel between electrodes through the electrolyte. The charger passes current to the battery. Lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode through the electrolyte. The potential difference between the two electrodes charges the battery.
Do Li-ion batteries drain charge? All batteries drain charge when not in use. Li-ion battery too loses charge while idling. If users charge a discharged battery, they will reduce its capacity. Overall, Li-ion battery wins because of its efficiency compared to conventional ones.
What are the prospects for Li-ion-powered electric cars? According to a Mordor Intelligence report, the market for lithium in the Middle East and Africa region will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate [CAGR] of over 10 per cent during the forecast period 2016- 2026. Demand for electric vehicles, the increasing use and demand from the portable consumer electronics drive the market.
Recycling of lithium and its batteries will offer various lucrative opportunities for the growth of market. By application, battery will likely account for the largest share owing to increasing use of lithium to produce batteries. By country, the report expects Saudi Arabia to dominate the market during the forecast period.
In conclusion, Li-ion battery has good prospects, barring clarity on its safety concerns.
[Sudeep Sonawane, an India-based journalist, has worked in five countries in the Middle East and Asia. Email: [sudeep.sonawane@gmail.com]
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