Traction batteryFinland

Learn traffic rules with clear explanations and visual examples in our illustrated book, designed to make studying simple and engaging.


178. Traction battery

A traction battery is a rechargeable battery that stores electrical energy used to propel an electric or hybrid vehicle. It supplies power to one or more electric traction motors and is normally much larger and more powerful than the vehicle's conventional 12-volt starter battery.

Traction-battery capacity is commonly expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and strongly influences an electric vehicle's driving range. Its performance and usable capacity can gradually decrease with age, charging cycles, temperature and use.

Traction battery
Lithium-ion traction batteries of a SOR EBN 11 electric city bus at IAA 2014. (Hanover, Germany)
Wikimedia.org • Spielvogel • CC0
What does a traction battery do?

A traction battery stores electrical energy and supplies it to the electric motor or motors that propel the vehicle. In hybrid vehicles it works together with another power source, while in battery-electric vehicles it provides the main source of propulsion energy.

What is the difference between a traction battery and a 12-volt car battery?

The traction battery provides the large amount of electrical energy needed to propel the vehicle. The conventional 12-volt battery mainly supplies low-voltage systems and supports functions such as vehicle electronics, control systems and starting procedures.

What does traction-battery capacity mean?

Battery capacity indicates how much electrical energy the battery can store and is commonly expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A larger usable capacity generally allows more electrical energy to be available for driving.

1 Finland 2 Motorway 3 Built-up area 4 Zone 5 Speed limit 6 Footpath 7 Shared-use path 8 Pedestrian warning 9 Pedestrian zone 10 Quay 11 Slope 12 Bus lane 13 Bus stop 14 Dead end 15 Stop sign 16 Give way 17 Roundabout 18 Priority road 19 Railway crossing 20 School area 21 Crossing animals 22 Wrong-way driving 23 Roadworks 24 Height limit 25 Weight limit 26 Radar speed sign 27 Priority at the next junction 28 Traffic lights 29 Driving licence 30 Countdown markers 31 International border 32 Cycling route 33 Parking 34 No parking 35 Parallel parking 36 Parking disc 37 Reversing 38 Uncontrolled crossroad 39 Verge 40 City limit 41 Licence plate 42 Charging station 43 Dangers 44 Pedestrian 45 Cyclist 46 Moped 47 Bus 48 Police 49 Ambulance 50 Tram lights 51 European emission standard 52 Pothole 53 Path 54 Particulates 55 Air pollution 56 Rush hour 57 Road code 58 Two-way traffic 59 Street gutter 60 Cargo bike 61 Forestry vehicle 62 Construction vehicle 63 Semi-trailer truck 64 Trolleybus 65 Speed pedelec 66 Delivery vehicle 67 Idling 68 Tow truck 69 Four-wheel drive 70 No vehicles 71 Bicycle 72 Motorcycle equipment 73 Rail track 74 Caravan 75 Trailer 76 Tow hitch 77 Fire truck 78 Siren 79 Convoy 80 Emergency vehicle lighting 81 Agricultural machinery 82 Electric bicycle 83 Electric vehicle 84 Pedelec 85 Quadricycle 86 Microcar 87 All-terrain vehicle 88 Van 89 Recreational vehicle 90 Scooter 91 Trikke 92 Personal mobility device 93 Skateboard 94 Segway 95 Kick scooter 96 Roller skates 97 Mailman 98 Hitchhiker 99 Toddler 100 Child ... 101 Disability 102 Skier 103 Snowmobile 104 Motorail 105 km/h 106 mph 107 Speedometer 108 National speed 109 Ride height 110 Dirt road 111 Driving 112 Start-stop system 113 Manual transmission 114 Automatic transmission 115 Throttle 116 Tachometer 117 Steering wheel 118 Power steering 119 Visual scanning 120 Mirror 121 Fuel 122 Fuel gauge 123 Petrol 124 Diesel 125 Diesel exhaust fluid 126 Car insurance 127 First aid kit 128 Fire extinguisher 129 High-visibility clothing 130 First aid 131 Concrete step barrier 132 Barriers 133 Vehicle lights 134 Street lights 135 Dipped beam 136 High beam 137 Fog lights 138 Front fog lights 139 Rear fog lights 140 Side lights 141 Turn signals 142 Hazard lights 143 Dashboard lights 144 Bicycle lighting 145 Bicycle bell 146 Headlight flashing 147 Seat belt 148 Child restraints 149 Head restraints 150 Airbag 151 ABS 152 Esp 153 Traction control system 154 Helmet 155 Bicycle helmet 156 Hands-free 157 Smartphone 158 GPS 159 Brake 160 Handbrake 161 Brake fluid 162 Tyres 163 Tyre code 164 Winter tyres 165 Tyre pressure 166 Snow chains 167 Bicycle tyre 168 Continuous track 169 Gross Vehicle Weight 170 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 171 Cargo 172 Car body 173 Trunk 174 Roof rack 175 Windscreen 176 Emergency hammer 177 Car battery 178 Traction battery 179 Suspension 180 Shock absorber 181 Spring 182 Exhaust 183 Exhaust gas 184 Soot 185 Catalytic converter 186 Engine 187 Petrol engine 188 Diesel engine 189 Electric motor 190 Timing belt 191 Glow plug 192 Cylinder 193 Engine oil 194 Coolant 195 Maintenance 196 Spare tyre 197 Flat tyre 198 Jack 199 Vehicle inspection 200 Key 201 Dashboard 202 Windscreen wiper 203 Doors 204 Glovebox 205 Visibility 206 Rain 207 Fog 208 Hail 209 Sunlight 210 Sunglasses 211 Salt 212 Air conditioning 213 Hydroplaning 214 Distraction 215 Emotions 216 Road rage 217 Health 218 Epilepsy 219 Night blindness 220 Visual impairment 221 Fatigue 222 Defects 223 Traffic violation 224 Alcohol 225 Alcohol control 226 Ignition interlock device 227 Breath test 228 Breath analysis 229 Blood alcohol content 230 Blood test 231 Saliva test 232 Drugs 233 Medication 234 Penalties 235 Speeding 236 Smoking 237 Traffic enforcement camera 238 Accident 239 Injuries 240 Nosebleed 241 Damage 242 Breakdown 243 Warning triangle 244 Traffic rules 245 Driving school 246 Traffic signs