Pros and cons of lithium-ion batteries

The lithium-ion battery is very popular in a wide range of household electronics. They are common in articles such as MP3 players, phones, PDAs and laptops. As with other technologies, the lithium-ion battery has a wide range of advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages:

High energy density – a big advantage is the high energy density of the lithium-ion battery. This gives the battery a high power while still remaining relatively small. The compact size makes it a popular choice in the mobile industry.

Low maintenance – maintenance of the batteries is not necessary to maintain their performance. Other types of batteries, such as the nickel-based units, require a normal discharge to maintain optimum performance.

Fast charging – the lithium-ion battery is charging fast. The timetable to fully charge is a lot less than alternatives on the market. This is an important reason why they are used in phones and tablets that need to be charged daily in normal use.

Light – They are relatively light and small, making them a practical choice in a wide range of applications. In addition to small items such as a telephone, they are also a popular choice for electric cars and golf carts. Moreover, they are widely used in the aerospace industry.

Low self-discharge – Most batteries lose a certain amount of charge after being disconnected from a power source. But the lithium-ion battery has a discharge rate that is much lower than that of other types of batteries. For example, nickel cadmium would lose its charge more quickly, even if the battery is not used.

Lifespan: this type of battery has a long life span and continues to provide reliable performance over a very long period. In addition, they can get a regular load without seeing much difference in capacity.

The disadvantages:

Duration – The process of making the lithium-ion battery is quite long and expensive. On average, this type of battery costs almost 40 percent more to produce compared to the nickel-cadmium battery.

Transport – It is not the easiest type of battery to transport and has various limitations. For example, it is not possible to transport the lithium-ion battery in large volumes through the air. However, it is still possible to fly with a few devices with the batteries in general baggage.

Circuit breaker – The useful life can be shortened if the battery is regularly overcharged. In addition, these batteries have a built-in protection circuit to maintain current and voltage and ensure that they are kept within safe limits.