Li-ion: The Battery Of Choice!

The trend of battery-powered laptops and other portable equipment becoming smaller and more power hungry led to the creation of lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable batteries. The electrodes used in these batteries are constructed with lightweight lithium and carbon, making them compact and lightweight. They offer a far better performance in comparison with the more traditional rechargeable batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries often used in laptops aren't the same as primary lithium batteries used in cameras. Li-ion technology has been around since 1990 and has over time emerged as a superior power source for a number of applications. With the demand and growth of the electronic consumer market, Li-ion batteries have witnessed unprecedented popularity, and are used in laptops, iPhones, iPods, PDAs and other electronic equipment.

It is energy density that determines the weight and size of batteries. The idea is to minimize both the weight and dimensions of the portable equipment for today’s market, and Li-ion batteries give designers this ability, with their significantly better volumetric energy density. These batteries are not only seen used in consumer electronics, but also in aerospace, defense and automotive applications were high energy density is used.

Since Li-ion cells have a much higher operating voltage than others, fewer cells are needed to build a pack, thus reducing the battery assembly costs and increasing reliability.

There isn't any one reason for their huge acceptance in the rapidly growing market. The numerous benefits include higher energy density, better cycle life, higher voltage per cell, great low temperature performance, simple battery management, slower self discharge when not being used – about 5% in a month, easy to charge in addition to being environmental friendly too.

One of many benefits of lithium-ion batteries is the fact they have no “memory effect,” which means they don't have to be completely discharged before they are recharged, like so many other batteries. The batteries also stay new for a long period and can take hundreds of charge and discharge cycles.

Li-ion batteries are also simple to use in a variety of devices because they may be created in different size and shapes.

Having talked about all the positive features about Li-ion batteries, one cannot help but wonder if anything can be so perfect. Well, the only flaw that is found is their ability to burst into flames – very rarely, perhaps a few battery packs in a million.

Li-ion batteries are the most energetic and powerful batteries around, and one cannot go wrong using them, and the possible lack of memory effect makes them even more attractive to consumers.


Even so these batteries do have a finite lifespan, however before you throw them out checkout this highly recommended  guide to Recondition Old Batteries you may be able to give them a new lease of life.