*Corresponding Author. Email Address: azianti106@salam.uitm.edu.my International Journal of Reliability and Applications Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 123-129, 2011 STUDY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENT Won Jung Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Daegu University, South Korea A. Ismail*, M.F. Ariffin and S.A. Noor Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Abstract: Due to restriction of vehicle emissions and high demand for fossil fuels nowadays, car manufacturers around the world are looking into alternative ways in introducing new car model that would vastly captured the market. Thus, Electric Vehicle (EV) has been further developed to take the advantage of the current global issues on price of fossil fuels and impact on the environment. Since car battery plays the crucial role on the overall performance of EV, many researchers have been working on improving the component. This paper focused on the reliability of EV battery which involves recognizing failure types, testing method and life prediction method. By focusing on these elements, the reliability feature being identified and as a result the batteries life will be prolonged. Key Words: Electric vehicle battery, Reliability improvement 1. INTRODUCTION EV model has its own type of battery such as advanced Pb-acid, NiMH or Li-ion as a source of power for the vehicle to move thus it is considered as vital component. The potential expansion of EV industry has made the enhancement of battery technology becomes crucial due to its application. The major drawback of EV battery that prevents the car manufacturers to vastly produce EV to the market is maintaining performance and dependability of the battery without failure for a specified period of time. Chan (2007) has mentioned that high initial cost, short driving range, long charging time, and reduced passenger and cargo space have portrayed the limitation of battery-powered EVs. Features of ideal EV battery must have enough power to be attained for long range with one charge and provide stable acceleration and ascending power capability. The battery with high safety mechanism, free maintenance and recyclable would make it the perfect car to be owned by the customer. Therefore, the reliability of EV batteries is important when the car manufacturer decided to introduce EV widely to the customers. Based on Tollefson (2008) article, battery technology is mostly associated as EV technical barrier.