Battery Cost and Usage - I — Lesson 3

This lesson covers the intricate details of battery usage and cost. It delves into the aspects of how cells are used to make a battery pack, the process of charging and discharging a battery, and the effective cost of a battery per kilowatt hour. The lesson also explains the concept of depreciation and finance cost in relation to battery usage. It further discusses the impact of factors like depth of discharge, rate of charge, temperature, and usable life cycles on the cost and life of a battery. For instance, if a battery is used for 5 years, the cost is divided by 1/5 for 5 years to calculate the monthly cost. This lesson is crucial for understanding the technoeconomic aspects of battery usage.

Video Highlights

00:18 - Introduction and the topic of battery aspects
01:00 - Cost of a battery and its capacity
07:07 - How to convert the capital cost to operational cost
12:22 - Concept of usable battery capacity per cycle
15:37 - How to calculate the effective battery cost per year and kilowatt hour
17:47 - Explanation of the PMT formula used in Excel for calculating depreciation and interest rate

Key Takeaways

- The cost of a battery depends on factors like the number of cells used, the cost per cell, and the mechanical, electrical, and thermal design of the pack.
- The effective cost of a battery per kilowatt hour can be calculated by considering the capital cost, life of the battery, and interest cost.
- The concept of depreciation and finance cost is used to convert the capital cost to operational cost.
- The life of a battery is given in terms of the number of charge-discharge cycles, which depends on factors like rate of charging, temperature, and usable life cycles.
- The effective battery cost per year can be calculated using the PMT function in Excel, which considers the upfront capital cost, interest rate, and the number of years of life.