Advanced lithium ion cells with lithium manganese spinel

For electric vehicle propulsion, a number of alternative concepts exist. One approach is the so-called full electric vehicle (EV), which is exclusively driven by a battery. Another alternative is the hybrid vehicle concept, where a combustion engine and a battery are used for propulsion. Both concepts 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, resulting in a high-energy battery for the EV application and a high-power battery for hybrid vehicles. Both requirements, the high-energy and the high-power requirement, can be met by lithium ion batteries. With lithium manganese oxide and carbon as active materials, high-energy cells were realised with an energy density of 115 Wh/kg and a specific pulse power of 500 W/kg, as well as high-power cells with an energy density of 60 Wh/kg and a specific pulse power of 850 W/kg. Both types of cells show good cycle life and good performance at low temperatures. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.