How much do you know about battery categories ?
With the continuous development of battery technology, various types of batteries and chemical terms have emerged, leaving many people with limited understanding of these terms. In order to help purchasers gain a better understanding of basic battery knowledge and choose the right battery for their needs, let’s explore some basic battery categories and their characteristics.
Battery categories can be divided into two major categories: primary batteries and secondary batteries , sometimes also referred to as disposable batteries and rechargeable batteries.
The primary battery refers to a non-rechargeable disposable battery that cannot be used after the battery energy is exhausted. The conventional standards include A , AA , AAA , AAAA , C , D and small , flat , disc shape, etc. They are mainly used in low-power devices that are used occasionally. They are relatively inexpensive, have a long shelf life, and are easy to maintain. Common primary batteries currently on the market include zinc metal batteries, alkaline batteries, non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries, etc.
Zinc metal battery : Zinc metal battery is the cheapest battery on the market. It provides low power and only suitable for low-power devices such as clocks and calculators. Their biggest drawback is that they are easy to leak . Currently, most of them are instead by alkaline battery .
Alkaline batteries : Alkaline batteries can be used in medium-power devices and have low energy loss. They are more common on the market and are easier to purchase. However, alkaline batteries can leak, generate heat, and their actual energy output is often lower than their rated capacity. As a result, they are not suitable for high-power devices.
Non-rechargeable lithium batteries: These types of lithium batteries have a higher energy density, which means they have higher capacity or lighter weight compared to other types of primary batteries. They also have a longer lifespan and are less prone to leakage. However, they tend to be relatively more expensive. Considering their overall cost-effectiveness, these lithium batteries are still a good choice.
Secondary batteries are just the opposite of primary batteries. Secondary batteries are rechargeable batteries that can be recharged and used , such as mobile phone batteries and car batteries. There are many types of secondary batteries currently on the market, including nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lead -acid batteries and lithium -ion batteries , etc.
Nickel-cadmium batteries: The nickel-cadmium battery series reached its peak in the 1980s. However, nickel-cadmium batteries have a relatively high self-discharge rate, which results in higher maintenance costs. Additionally, frequent cycling of charge and discharge has a significant impact on the battery’s lifespan and charging capacity.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries: Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries started to replace nickel-cadmium batteries due to their superior capacity, lower cost, and more environmentally friendly nature. They perform well in high-power devices. However, their biggest drawback is that they have an even higher self-discharge rate compared to nickel-cadmium batteries.
Lead-acid batteries: As the oldest and most stable chemical technology, lead-acid batteries have been widely used in most automobiles. Although they have the advantage of being more cost-effective, they are heavy, have a shorter lifespan, and can cause significant pollution to the atmosphere, water bodies, and soil.
Lithium-ion batteries: As the future of rechargeable batteries, lithium-ion batteries are continuously evolving and improving. They offer advantages such as high energy density, low self-discharge rate, fast charging and discharging, long lifespan, maintenance-free operation, and environmental friendliness. They are widely used in various fields. The most noteworthy among them is the more popular 26650 lifepo4 battery. This type of battery has better safety and more efficient performance, which is currently widely used in UPS, starting batteries, medical equipment, AGV, energy storage, and other fields. Through the above content, I believe you already have a general understanding of the battery categories . If you want to know more about lithium iron phosphate batteries, we recommend you to further read the following articles : “What is a 26650 LiFePO4 Battery? “, ” Why are LiFePO4 batteries safer? “.