The failure rate of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) is very low, currently estimated at about one in 10 million cells, which has significantly improved over time due to advancements in battery technology. This extremely low failure rate positively impacts the overall safety of EVs, making lithium-ion battery failures a rare cause of safety issues.
Battery degradation, which differs from outright failure, occurs gradually at around 1.8% to 2.3% per year on average, depending on factors like charging methods and climate. While degradation reduces battery capacity over time, it does not necessarily compromise safety directly but may affect range and performance.
Most safety concerns related to lithium-ion batteries stem from rare incidents involving internal shorts or damage, which can lead to thermal runaway—a rapid, uncontrollable release of energy resulting in fire. These failures are often linked to physical damage, improper handling, or manufacturing defects rather than normal operational degradation. Additionally, the risk is heightened if batteries are exposed to harsh conditions or suffer electrical shorts inside the cell, scenarios that safety circuits cannot always prevent once initiated.
In summary:
- The lithium-ion battery failure rate in EVs is extremely low, approximately one in 10 million cells, which contributes to high overall vehicle safety.
- Battery degradation occurs slowly and does not typically cause safety risks but affects battery performance over the vehicle’s lifetime.
- Most serious safety incidents are linked to rare internal faults, physical damage, or mishandling rather than normal battery wear.
- Proper battery management, handling, and manufacturing quality controls are crucial to maintaining safe operation.
Therefore, the low failure rate of lithium-ion batteries means that while safety risks exist, they are minimal and continue to decline with improved technology and procedures, making EVs generally safe with respect to their battery systems.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-failure-rate-of-lithium-ion-batteries-in-electric-vehicles-impact-their-overall-safety/
