Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles and overview of all batteries.

Lithium-ion Batteries -

These are currently used in most portable consumer electronics such as cell phones and laptops because of their high energy per unit mass relative to other electrical energy storage system. they also have high power-to-weight ratio, high energy efficiency, good high temperature performance and low self discharge.

Most components of lithium ion batteries can be recycled, but the cost of material recovery remains a challenge for the industry. Most of today's PHEVs & EVs use lithium ion batteries, though the exact chemistry often varies from that of consumer electronics batteries. Research and development are ongoing to reduce cost and extend their useful life.

Nickel-metal Hybride Batteries -

These are used routinely in computer and in medical equipment, offer reasonable specific energy and specific power capabilities. These batteries have much longer life cycle than lead acid batteries and safe. These batteries have been widely used in HEVs. The main Challenges with nickel-metal hybrid batteries are their high cost, high self discharge and heat generation at high temp and the need to control hydrogen loss.

Lead Acid Batteries - 

These can be designed to be high power and are inexpensive, safe and reliable. However, low specific energy, poor cold temp performance and short life. Advanced high power lead acid batteries are being developed, but these batteries are only used in commercially available electric drive vehicles for ancillary loads.

Ultracapacitors -

Ultracapacitors store energy in a polarized liquid between an electrode and an electrolyte. Energy storage capacity increases as the liquid's surface area increases. These ultracapacitors can provide additional power to the vehicles during acceleration and hill climbing. They may also be useful as secondary energy storage devices in electric drive vehicles beacuse they help electrochemical batteries level load power

Allover overview of batteries - 

An electric-vehicle battery (EVB) in addition to the traction battery speciality systems used for industrial (or recreational) vehicles, are batteries used to power the electric motors of a Battery Electric Vehicle(BEVs). These batteries are usually a secondary (rechargeable) battery, and are typically lithium-ion batteries. Traction batteries, specifically designed with a high ampere-hour capacity, are used in forklifts, electric golf carts, riding floor scrubbers, electric motorcycles, electric cars, trucks, vans, and other electric vehicles.

Electric-vehicle batteries differ from starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) batteries as they are designed to give power over sustained periods of time. Deep-cycle batteries are used instead of SLI batteries for these applications. Batteries for electric vehicles are characterized by their relatively high power-to-weight ratio, specific energy and energy density; smaller, lighter batteries reduce the weight of the vehicle and improve its performance. Compared to liquid fuels, most current battery technologies have much lower specific energy, and this often impacts the maximal all-electric range of the vehicles. However, metal-air batteries have high specific energy because the cathode is provided by the surrounding oxygen in the air. Rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles include lead–acid ("flooded", deep-cycle, and VRLA), NiCd, nickel–metal hydride, lithium-ion, Li-ion polymer, and, less commonly, zinc–air, sodium nickel chloride ("zebra") batteries. The most common battery type in modern electric cars are lithium-ion and Lithium polymer battery, because of their high energy density compared to their weight. The amount of electricity (i.e. electric charge) stored in batteries is measured in ampere hours or in coulombs, with the total energy often measured in watt hours.