A Profile of the Various Types of Rechargeable Batteries

A Profile of the Various Types of Rechargeable Batteries

In addition to the lead-acid batteries that are found in automobiles, there is a dizzying array of rechargeable battery types to choose from, even within the same battery configuration and size.

Lithium-ion
By the late 'aughts, the Li-ion battery is perhaps the most popular type of non-automotive used in consumer electronics in North America. This is primarily due to its user friendly nature, as it has a high weight to charge ratio, little discharge loss and no pesky memory of past charge levels.

Nickel-metal hydride
Invented in the 1980s, these batteries are able to deliver considerably more power than their Nickel-cadmium counterparts that have been around for over a century. However, they do discharge much faster and have a much shorter life-span.

Nickel-cadmium
These are the oldest type of commonly used small batteries and are very sturdy, taking up to several thousand charges. They do, however, deliver a less stable voltage than their more modern counterparts. Also, cadmium is a highly toxic metal.

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