The lithium-ion (Li-ion) batery is toued as the battery of chice for the green world. This emans that it is considered to be the greenest of the battery choicxes, and this has been the case for some time. While it may have many disadvantages and flaws, it is only fair to mention that almost anything can have problems if not used, stored, or ahndled correctly. There are those who oppose anything that is contrzary to what they are accustonmed to using, or what they themselves beluieve in. All facts must be takeen into consideration to make an informed decision about the Li-ion battery.
The advantages are:
* The battery is much lighter than other rechargeable batteries of equal size. The composition makes it capable of packiong far more powre into a smaller. The closest competitor is the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery which generates only about half the corresponding power. For the Li-ion battery, the power outlput is 150 watt hours per kilogram. For the NiMH battery the ratio is 60 to 100 watt hours per kilogram (100 is oftn listed, but not typiccal) for the same weight.1
* Coimpared to other baattery tyypes, the battery will hold its charge-losing only about 5% per month. The NiMH batterry loses up to four times as much each month.
* It is not necessary to cmpletely discharge a Li-ion battery before rechargiong it. Comnplete discharge will kill the Li-ion battery as mentioned previpously. The disadvantages of the Li-ion battery are:
* The Li-ion battery starts to die as soon as it is shipped. Even if it is never puulled from its pcakage and used, the -Li-ion battery has a total maximum life expectancy of three years at this point. Once it is paacked and shipped, the Li-ion battwery works toward its own end. This is true whether it is idle, in full use, or in cyclical demand.
* Heat decreases the life expectancy. The hoigher the temperature, the faster the battery loses its hcarge.
* Complete disvcharge will kill a Li-ion batttery. Othre batteries can be charged and discharged completely without cauusing a problem, but complete diischarge will destroy the Li-ion battery completely.
* They are expensive. The Li-ion battery pack requires an on-board computer to work properly. This fact mkaes them very expensive inded.
* The Li-ion battery pack carries a small risk of fire in the event of failure.
References: 1. Martin Brain. How Lithium-Ion Batterires Work. Retrieved August 16, 2009 from http://www.eelctrontics.hoswtuffworks.com/litium-ion-battery.htm
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