Lithium-ion batteries are a type of battery that uses lithium metal or lithium alloys as the negative electrode material and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The earliest lithium metal battery was proposed and studied by Gilbert N. Lewis in 1912. In the 1970s, MS Whittingham proposed and began researching lithium-ion batteries. Due to the highly reactive chemical properties of lithium metal, its processing, storage, and use require very strict environmental controls. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries were not widely used for a long time. With the development of science and technology, lithium-ion batteries have now become mainstream.
Lithium batteries can be broadly classified into two categories: lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries do not contain metallic lithium and are rechargeable. The fifth generation of rechargeable batteries, lithium metal batteries, was developed in 1996, and their safety, specific capacity, self-discharge rate, and performance-price ratio are all superior to lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are now widely used in electric vehicles, energy storage, and digital products.
Previously, the market believed that lithium batteries had a lifespan of only two to three years and a cycle life of around 300-500 times. Now, with rapid development, the lifespan of lithium batteries has been greatly improved.
For example, some automakers offer lifetime warranties on lithium batteries, and in terms of cycle life, lithium iron phosphate batteries already exceed 3,000-4,000 cycles. Other companies are developing automotive-grade batteries with a cycle life of 5,000-6,000 cycles.
In terms of energy storage batteries, the cycle life is even higher. For example, REPT Energy has achieved a battery life of over 6,000 cycles for use in the energy storage market. Furthermore, REPT Energy aims to launch a battery with an 8,000-cycle life this year, and its future goal is to achieve 12,000 cycles.
