A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses the reversible intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically conducting solids to store energy. In comparison with other commercial rechargeable batteries, Li-ion batteries are characterized by higher specific energy, higher energy density, higher energy efficiency, a longer cycle life, and a longer calendar life. Also noteworthy is a dramatic improvement in lithium-ion battery properties after their market introduction in 1991: within the next 30 years, their volumetric energy density increased threefold while their cost dropped tenfold.
A 3.6 V Li-ion battery from a Nokia 3310 mobile phone
Cylindrical Panasonic 18650 lithium-ion cell before closing.
Lithium-ion battery monitoring electronics (over-charge and deep-discharge protection)
Left: AA alkaline battery. Right: 18650 lithium ion battery
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. The vehicle can be powered by a collector system, with electricity from extravehicular sources, or can be powered autonomously by a battery or by converting fuel to electricity using a generator or fuel cells. EVs include road and rail vehicles, electric boats and underwater vessels, electric aircraft and electric spacecraft.
Thomas Edison and George Meister in a Studebaker electric runabout, 1909
A charging station in Seattle shows an AMC Gremlin, modified to take electric power; it had a range of about 50 miles (80 km) on one charge, 1973
General Motors EV1 electric car (1996–1998), a subject of the film Who Killed the Electric Car?
A passenger train, taking power through a third rail with return through the traction rails