Advanced Batteries for Electric Vehicles and Energy Storage Systems

In recent decades, secondary batteries have driven the wireless revolution of mobile phones and notebook computers. Now, they are playing a vital role as the main power source for electric vehicles and as the storage device for electricity generated from renewable sources. The spectrum of secondary cells is diverse in chemistry, size, shape, and performance, but each has its own application. Lithium‐ion cells have become the major power source for small electronic devices, but are still considered as the most promising power source for electric vehicles and small‐ or medium‐sized energy storage systems. The increase in the cell/pack size and heavier duty usage for these applications have led to great concern about the cost and safety of these cells. Lithium–sulfur and lithium–air systems have emerged as the next‐generation high‐energy cells. Redox‐flow and sodium–sulfur batteries are revisited as large‐scale energy storage devices. In order for secondary batteries to accomplish their own and ultimate roles, however, further R&D efforts is necessary for the development of materials, cell design, pack fabrication, and battery management systems.