When a battery is discharged the chemical reaction produces some extra electrons as the reaction occurs. An example of a reaction that produces electrons is the oxidation of iron to produce. When the reaction that produces the flow of electrons cannot be reversed the battery is referred to as a primary battery. When one of the reactants is. Depending on the transition metal used in the lithium-ion battery, the cell can have a higher capacity but can be more reactive and susceptible to a phenomenon known as thermal runaway. In the. New technologies often demand more compact, higher capacity, safe, rechargeable batteries. In 1980, the American physicist Professor John Goodenough invented a new type of lithium battery in which the lithium (Li) could migrate through the. The leader in manufacturing this new battery format for vehicles is the Teslaelectric vehicle company, which has plans for building "Giga-plants" for production of these.