PROJECT ON E VEHICLE

RECHARGEABLE batteries were first introduced in 1859 when the first rechargeable
lead–acid battery was invented by the French inventor Gaston Plante [1]. Lead–acid
batteries are used in several applications where cost is more important than space
and weight, typically preferred as backup batteries for uninterruptable power supply
(UPS) and alarm systems, as well as automotive lighting and ignition applications
(unsuitable for portable appliances). Almost four decades beyond this invention, the
nickel–cadmium (NiCd) battery was invented and widely used in low-power
applications. One major limitation of NiCd batteries is the “memory effect”
phenomenon, which is a term used to describe the degradation in the battery
capacity when it is partly charged and discharged. In addition, because of cadmium,
these batteries are not environmentally friendly. Then, in the 1990s, nickel–metal–
hydride (NiMH) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries were invented and commercialized.
These batteries have higher energy and power densities compared with lead–acid and
NiCd batteries and do not suffer from the memory effect. In particular, Li-ion batteries
have the highest
braking energy.