With the increasing environmental awareness and pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, electric cars emerge as a sustainable alternative to fuel-powered vehicles.
Electric car batteries play a pivotal role in this transition, serving as the primary element supplying these vehicles with the necessary energy to operate.
These batteries boast numerous advantages, such as reducing harmful emissions, enhancing sustainability, improving energy efficiency, reducing noise, and driving technological advancements.
In simplified terms, a battery is a rechargeable energy storage device specifically designed to power electric vehicles. It serves as the primary source of energy that propels the car by providing electricity to the electric motor.
These batteries play a crucial role in the shift towards sustainable transportation, enabling vehicles to operate without relying on traditional internal combustion engines.
Electric car batteries typically consist of lithium-ion cells due to their high energy density, efficiency, and relatively light weight. These cells store electrical energy through a chemical reaction between the cathode, anode, and electrolyte within the battery.
During usage, the stored energy is converted into electricity, which in turn powers the electric motor, resulting in smooth acceleration free from emissions.
The largest economy in Asia dominates battery production, leading global automotive manufacturers to rely on Chinese partners. Battery manufacturing companies in China supply approximately 80% of cells worldwide, supported by mining and processing chains.
In early 2023, the German automaker Volkswagen sent nearly 300 employees to the Chinese battery manufacturer Guoxuan for familiarization with battery production, starting from the basics of battery chemical composition to battery pack assembly.
Volkswagen employees have been undertaking such educational trips since 2021 when the German company began investing in Guoxuan, eventually becoming its largest investor.
The fact that Volkswagen, a century-old car manufacturing company, needs to learn from a Chinese battery manufacturer underscores China’s leadership in the new energy sector worldwide.
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