What is a lithium-ion battery?
What is lithium-ion (Li-Ion)? |
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Lithium-Ion batteries are the latest generation in battery technology.
They are made from lithium, the lightest of all metals and manufacturers claim that they have significant advantages over NiCd and NiMH batteries. |
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Advantages |
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Compared to NiCd and NiMH batteries of the same voltage, Li-Ion is the lightest in weight. | |||
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Li-Ion batteries do not suffer from ‘memory effect’. | |||
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They perform well in lower temperatures, so can be used outdoors in cold weather. | |||
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As they contain fewer polluting metals compared to other types of battery, Li-Ion batteries are relatively environmentally friendly. | |||
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Li-Ion batteries have a low self discharge rate. | |||
Disadvantages |
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They are the most expensive, compared to NiCd and NiMH. | |||
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They can ignite or explode if exposed to high temperatures. | |||
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They have a shorter battery life compared to NiCd and NiMH batteries of the same voltage. | |||
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As Li-Ion is a relatively new technology, all the disadvantages are not known yet. | |||
