EV Batteries 101: The Basics

The document explains that most electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, specifically lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries. It details the technical advantages of lithium-ion technology, such as high energy density and durability, and describes the internal movement of electrons between the anode and cathode via an electrolyte. Finally, it identifies the primary minerals used in these batteries—lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, and graphite—while noting the social and environmental concerns associated with their mining.

• Electric vehicles are categorized by their power sources: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are fully electric, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use both electricity and an internal combustion engine (ICE) and can be plugged in, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) use both but cannot be plugged in, making them less efficient than BEVs and PHEVs.
• Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) are the most prevalent lithium-ion battery types used in EVs, though no single battery chemistry is ideal for all vehicles due to various tradeoffs.
• Lithium-ion batteries are preferred for EVs because of their high energy density, ability to operate across a wide range of temperatures, low self-discharge rates, and capacity to withstand numerous charge cycles.
• The operation of a lithium-ion battery involves electrons moving from the anode to the cathode during use and from the cathode to the anode during charging, facilitated by an electrolyte medium and a separator membrane that prevents short circuiting.
• Common minerals used in lithium-ion batteries include lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, and graphite, the mining of which is linked to environmental damage and human rights issues, including child labor and poor worker safety.

APA

RMI (2023). EV Batteries 101: The Basics. https://rmi.org/resources/ev-batteries-101-the-basics/

Chicago

RMI. EV Batteries 101: The Basics. 2023. https://rmi.org/resources/ev-batteries-101-the-basics/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=EV Batteries 101: The Basics |date=8 March 2023 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/ev-batteries-101-the-basics/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2023batteries, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{EV Batteries 101: The Basics}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/ev-batteries-101-the-basics/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }