The Pros and Cons of Lithium Ion Batteries

Lithium ion batteries have been the top choice for rechargeable batteries for about two decades now, since they first entered the commercial market. Before lithium ion batteries hit the scene, nickel cadmium was the standard—lithium has about twice the energy density of nickel cadmium, making this a much more powerful battery choice.

Advantages of lithium ion batteries

These lithium ion battery benefits in Jefferson, WI make it clear why this type of battery is used in everything from mobile devices to laptops:

• High energy density: Lithium ion offers twice the energy density of nickel cadmium, making its charging capabilities much more robust than other types of batteries—which means that it would take two to three times the nickel cadmium battery cells to offer the same power as one lithium ion battery. This is important for devices like smartphones, laptops, power tools and electric vehicles, because ideally a battery should last a long time between needing to be charged, for convenience’s and practicality’s sake.
• Low maintenance: Lithium ion batteries don’t require any extra care to prolong their life, unlike other battery types—they don’t require cycling and have no memory associated. Other batteries might require periodic discharge or to top off the battery fluid, which you can avoid when you use lithium ion. There’s also no priming requirement, making them even simpler to use.
• Low self-discharge rate: The self-discharge rate of lithium ion batteries is much lower than other types of rechargeable batteries. You might see a 4 to 5 percent drop right after it’s charged, but then the self-discharge rate drops to 1 to 2 percent per month.
• Variety of types: There are many types and sizes of lithium ion batteries, which makes it convenient to use them in different applications—for example, the rechargeable battery in your smartphone is going to have different power requirements than the battery in your electric vehicle.

Disadvantages of lithium ion batteries

• Requires protection: The biggest disadvantage of lithium ion batteries is that they require protection from being overcharged and completely discharged. This is usually accomplished by adding protection circuitry within the battery itself, or in the device, which limits charge and discharge functions to remain at optimal levels.
• Issues with aging: Although technology is improving, the average lithium ion battery can only withstand between 500 and 1,000 discharge cycles before it fails. That makes their lifespan finite, and can affect how long a device can be used if the battery is built-in, as we see in today’s smartphones.
• Pricier: Finally, lithium ion costs about 40 percent more than nickel cadmium batteries, which can be prohibitive for some applications.

Remis Power Systems Inc. has been supplying industrial batteries to the Jefferson area since 1980. We specialize in providing state-of-the-art industrial battery technology from major names like Deka, as well as accessories and replacement parts. Our knowledgeable staff prides itself on staying up to date on battery technology, so we can help you find the right parts for your needs. Have questions about lithium ion battery pros of in Jefferson, WI? Call us today to get started.

Categorised in: Batteries

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