A Guide To Common Rechargeable Battery Types — Each Has Its Pros And Cons, Suitable for Different Scenarios

Rechargeable batteries are not a "one-size-fits-all" product. According to the different internal materials and structures, the common types mainly include four types: lithium batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries and lead-acid batteries. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for different usage scenarios.

Lithium batteries are currently the most mainstream type, divided into lithium-ion batteries and lithium-polymer batteries. They have the advantages of high energy density, light weight, long service life and no memory effect, and are widely used in high-end devices such as mobile phones, laptops and new energy vehicles; however, their disadvantages are high cost and higher safety requirements for charging equipment.

Nickel-cadmium batteries are one of the earliest popular rechargeable batteries. They have the advantages of low price, low temperature resistance and large discharge current, and are suitable for devices that require large current discharge such as power tools and flashlights; but they have a serious memory effect (charging without fully discharging multiple times will lead to capacity decline), and contain cadmium, which is highly polluting to the environment, and has gradually been eliminated.

Nickel-metal hydride batteries are upgraded substitutes for nickel-cadmium batteries. They have no cadmium pollution, weak memory effect, higher capacity than nickel-cadmium batteries, and their price is between lithium batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries. They are often used in digital cameras, electric toys, power banks and other devices; however, their energy density is lower than that of lithium batteries, and their service life is slightly shorter.

Lead-acid batteries are characterized by large capacity, extremely low price and large current discharge capacity. They are mainly used in scenarios that require large-capacity power supply such as electric vehicles, electric tricycles, UPS power supplies and solar energy storage; however, they are heavy, large in size, short in service life, and contain lead and sulfuric acid, which have certain pollution to the environment and need special recycling and treatment.