Which battery to choose for an electric car?
An in-depth study by EV Clinic
EV Clinic, a garage specialized in electric cars, conducted a study to identify the most reliable battery technologies and brands. To do this, they analyzed defective battery cells.
Contrary to what much of the public thinks, the lifespan of electric car batteries can exceed that of the vehicle. With good design, they can operate for several million kilometers and more than ten years without major problems. Ultimately, a second life or recycling is always a viable option.
The different battery formats
There are three main formats of batteries: cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic. Historically, pouch and prismatic formats were the most common. Tesla, however, opted for the cylindrical format, similar to the conventional consumer batteries. This format is also the basis of Tesla’s revolutionary 4680 cells.
According to EV Clinic, cylindrical cells stand out as the most efficient and reliable. In five years of activity, only four internal cells from two different Tesla batteries were found to be defective compared to dozens of pouch and prismatic cells.
Performance distribution
Beyond the simple format, the overall design of the battery, comprising dozens or even hundreds of cells, also plays a crucial role, as is the case for some plug-in hybrid cars. The cell chemistry (NMC, NCA, or LFP) is also a determining factor.
Cylindrical cells are superior in terms of performance and durability. They tolerate high charging and discharging powers better. For high-performance and premium uses, car manufacturers should prioritize this type of cell. Tesla boasts of a low degradation of its batteries: about 12% less capacity after 312,800 km traveled.
On the other hand, prismatic or pouch format batteries are recommended for less demanding uses in terms of charging and discharging. This reduces costs and the final price of electric cars. EV Clinic also notes that LFP or Blade prismatic cells, like those used in some Tesla Model Y, are among the most reliable and pose few problems.
