Electric cars have been with us since the very beginning of the automobile age and from that time until now, its most important component has been the battery. It stores energy chemically until it is needed to create the electricity that powers a vehicle’s motor. There have been different types of batteries over the years but none have had the practicality or popularity of the very first rechargeable one, the lead-acid battery.

Much like the one put together by in 1859 by its inventor, Gaston Planté, these batteries consist of lead plates sitting in an electrolyte (usually a mixture of sulfuric acid and water) solution. The lead acid battery has been improved by the addition of absorbed glass mat (AGM) between the lead plates. This material absorbs the electrolyte so if the battery were to break open nothing would spill out. Also, the “wet cell” lead acid battery produces hydrogen and oxygen that must be vented while the AGM version can recombine the gases. Some electric cars, like the Reva-G Wiz, still use these “wet cell” lead acid batteries because of their lower cost though they have the disadvantage of requiring water to be added to them occasionally.

As well as the lead acid battery has served us over the decades, it also has its drawbacks. These disadvantages have really kept electric vehicles from being a mainstream practical reality. Not only are they heavy and unable to hold a lot of energy, but the number of times they can be charged and discharged (cycled) is rather low. Luckily for us, the past 20 years have seen new battery technologies developed and commercialized. Hit the jump for more battery basics.

Continue reading Greenlings: Battery basics for beginners

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

Greenlings: Battery basics for beginners originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenlings: Battery basics for beginners – Green Cars