In the new energy vehicle weight needs to occupy the overall mass and volume is relatively large, a charge can be driven relatively short course, short service life, and the later use of high cost. In addition, lead-acid batteries charge for a long time, lead is a heavy metal, there is pollution, contrary to the concept of new energy vehicles.
Lithium batteries are widely used in mobile phones and computers. Fuel cells are born for electric / hybrid vehicles. Electric energy is generated by the chemical reaction of hydrogen oxidation, and the combustion products are water and very little carbon dioxide, which have little impact on the environment. No one knows for sure whether to choose lithium or fuel cells for electric vehicles, but we can look at these two types of batteries in a couple of comparisons.
High cost and complex process of hydrogen production are the main obstacles to the development of fuel cells. Hydrogen is obtained by electrolysis or steam recombination. But these two methods are expensive, and the cost of producing the same quality of natural gas is one-twentieth or even one-third of the cost of hydrogen production.
lithium-ion batterie shave relatively low production costs, and their recharging and reuse are very convenient. Compared with other portable energy sources, lithium-ion batteries have higher cost-effectiveness.
environmental effect
Fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries have little impact on the environment. The former combustion product is water, and does not produce greenhouse gas generated after gasoline / diesel combustion.
The discharge products of lithium-ion batteries may be lithium oxide, lithium hydroxide and so on, which will not affect the environment. In addition, lithium ion batteries can be reused.
Based on the above points, these two types of batteries have become the most popular power source of electric vehicles.
Material Science
In the fuel cell, polymer membrane is used as electrode to support hydrogen and oxygen generation. Polymer membranes must be specially machined to withstand high temperature and mechanical stress.
Lithium ions in lithium ion batteries can absorb charges, so the battery has the power to store electricity. The quality of lithium ion is very light, so it is the ideal power source of automobile.
potential
Whether fuel cells or lithium-ion batteries, there is still much room for improvement in related technologies. If the cost of fuel cell can be reduced, it can be used as an alternative energy for gasoline / diesel fuel.
For lithium batteries, if their energy density can be further improved, cycle life can be longer, it is also a very good driving energy.
Challenge
For fuel cells, there are still many technical problems waiting to be solved. For example, the high cost of platinum catalyst, the complex sealing technology, the huge hydrogen storage tank and the long start-up time and so on.
The problem of lithium-ion battery development is that the charging infrastructure is generally low. Therefore, as long as a good charging facility and charging network are established, the problem will be solved. Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan have signed an agreement to build charging facilities and build a charging network in Japan.