Lithium-ion batteries are the key technology for the use of electric motors in vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries are a promising alternative to the nickel metal hydride batteries used in current-generation HEVs i.e. hybrid electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries pack more power and energy into a smaller battery package.
Lithium-ion batteries are both lighter and smaller than nickel-metal hydride batteries, which are used in almost all hybrid cars today. Lithium-Ion batteries are longer lived than conventional batteries and do not require replacement as often.

Why Lithium-Ion Batteries?
Lithium-Ion batteries are lighter, more compact and powerful than NiMH (nickel-metal-hydride) batteries, and are high in energy density and power. Weighing less and consuming less space, incorporating lithium-ion batteries into hybrid cars helps boost fuel efficiency. Most car manufacturers aim to produce highly efficient hybrid and electric cars with Lithium-ion batteries as the industry standard.

Lithium-ion Batteries - The Technology
Batteries that use lithium move electrically charged atoms between their electrodes. When charging, the ions head in one direction and go the other way when they’re discharging. The most common chemical make-ups used for these batteries contain a positive electrode from cobalt or manganese oxide as well as a negative electrode from graphite. The ions pass through a lithium-based polymer or gel.

The automobiles, rapidly recharge and discharge batteries and are subject to varying temperatures, giving rise to instability of the batteries and could lead to overheating. There is also an issue of Lithium-ion batteries’ ability to hold a charge declines after a period of time and may not last the life of a car.

Hybrid Cars, HEVs & The Future of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Understand that the success hinges on many factors, namely, that the Lithium-ion batteries must sync with the driving system of each model, the battery chemistry must be correct, battery stability issue must be resolved; then to build the cells, and incorporate them into the algorithms and software inherent in vehicles.

With the above yet to be ironed out, lithium-ion battery powered hybrid cars are limited in quantity. But many car manufacturers production lines are near ready with a key milestone targeting 2010 or 2011 to roll off Lithium ion battery powered hybrid cars from the factories.

The Inevitable Race To Provide Lithium-Ion Batteries For Hybrid Car Manufacturers
In fact, Sanyo, the Japanese electronics giant announced in August 2008 that they are negotiating with 6 major car makers in US, Europe and Japan to supply lithium ion batteries for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles. Sanyo and Volkswagen have been jointly developing lithium-ion batteries as the race to the next generation of hybrid cars speeds up.

Toyota plans to start producing lithium-ion batteries for its market-leading Toyota Prius next year in a joint venture with Matsushita Electric Industrial. And another key Hybrid Car manufacturer, Nissan, is also in a joint venture with NEC to do the same.

Regardless of economic recession, the technological race to develop lithium ion batteries for hybrid cars as the future standard for the hybrid auto segment has started. We, as consumers, look on in anticipation of commercially priced lithium ion battery powered Hybrid cars for greater and better choices.

Visit Environmentally Friendly Cars Here for more reads on Hybrid Cars and stay turned for the latest reviews of 2009 Hybrid Car models as they roll off the plants.