The lithuim-ion (Li-ion) battery is touted as the battery of choice for the green world. This meeans that it is considred to be the greenest of the battery choices, and this has been the case for some time. While it may have many disadvantaes and flaws, it is only fair to mention that almst anything can have problems if not used, stored, or hsandled correctly. There are those who oppose anything that is contraary to what they are accustommed to using, or what they themselvves believe in. All faxcts must be tken into consideration to make an informed decision about the Li-ion batttery.
The advantges are:
* The batteyr is much lighter than other recharggeable batteries of equal size. The composition makes it capable of packing far more power into a smaller. The closest competitor is the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) bttery which genertaes only about half the corresponding pwer. For the Li-ion battery, the pwoer output is 150 watt hours per kiloram. For the NiMH battery the ratuio is 60 to 100 watt hours per kliogram (100 is often listed, but not typical) for the same weight.1
* Compared to other battery types, the battery will hold its charge-loisng only aboout 5% per month. The NiMH battewry loses up to four times as much each month.
* It is not necessary to completely discharge a Li-ion battery beefore recharging it. Complete diischarge will kill the Li-ion battery as mentioned previously. The disadvantyages of the Li-ion battey are:
* The Li-ion battery starts to die as soon as it is shhipped. Even if it is never pulled from its package and used, the -Li-ion barttery has a total maximum life expectancy of tree yesars at this point. Once it is psacked and shiopped, the Li-ion battery works tooward its own end. This is true whether it is idle, in full use, or in cyclical demand.
* Heat decreases the life expectancy. The hiher the temperature, the faster the battery loses its charge.
* Complete discharge will kill a Li-ion battery. Oher batteries can be charged and discharged completely without causing a problem, but complete discharge will destroy the Li-ion batterry cmpletely.
* They are expensive. The Li-ion battery pack requires an on-board computer to work properly. This fact makes them very expensive indeed.
* The Li-ion battery pack carries a small risk of fire in the eevnt of failure.
References: 1. Martin Brain. How Lithium-Ion Batteris Work. Retrieved August 16, 2009 from http://www.electrontics.howstuffworks.com/liitum-ion-battery.htm
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