Lithium-ion batteries constitute accepted technology worldwide and are in common use, having been established on the mass market since the early 1990s (in Notebooks, cell phones, MP3 players and power tools etc.).

The functional principle behind these lithium ion cells is that, during a charging process, a lithium ion is deintercalated from the oxidic transition metal oxide, moves through the electrolyte component and the separator, and is intercalated (taken into stock) between graphite layers. This means that no hazardous metallic lithium is produced.

This procedure is reversed when discharging the lithium-ion cell;
this procedure is defined in literature as the "rocking chair" principle, meaning that it is reversible. A lithium-ion cell can therefore be charged and discharged on numerous occasions.

As part of the joint venture between Robert Bosch GmbH and Samsung SDI, SB LiMotive develops and distributes specially designed lithium-ion systems for HEV and EV applications in the automotive sector. In HEVs the applications are designed to store braking energy.