EV Dictionary: Battery

800V Architecture

A high-voltage electrical system that operates at approximately 800 volts instead of the conventional 400V. 800V architecture enables faster charging, lighter wiring, and improved efficiency.

Battery Degradation

The gradual loss of an EV battery's capacity and performance over time and usage. Modern EV batteries typically retain 80-90% capacity after 8-10 years of normal use.

Battery Management System (BMS)

The electronic control system that monitors and manages an EV's battery pack. The BMS controls charging, discharging, temperature, cell balancing, and safety to maximize battery life and performance.

Battery Preconditioning

The process of heating or cooling the battery to its optimal temperature before DC fast charging. Preconditioning significantly improves charging speed, especially in cold weather.

Cell-to-Pack (CTP)

A battery design approach that integrates cells directly into the pack structure, eliminating the intermediate module layer. CTP increases energy density by using space more efficiently.

Charge Curve

A graph showing how an EV's DC charging power (kW) varies across different battery states of charge (SoC). The charge curve reveals real-world charging speed better than peak power alone.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A unit of energy used to measure EV battery capacity. One kWh equals the energy delivered by one kilowatt of power sustained for one hour.

LFP Battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate)

A lithium-ion battery chemistry using iron phosphate as the cathode material. LFP batteries are known for long cycle life, high safety, lower cost, and tolerance for charging to 100%.

NMC Battery (Nickel Manganese Cobalt)

A lithium-ion battery chemistry using nickel, manganese, and cobalt in the cathode. NMC batteries offer high energy density for longer range but at higher cost than LFP.

State of Charge (SoC)

The current charge level of an EV battery expressed as a percentage, similar to a fuel gauge. 100% means fully charged, 0% means empty.