Batteries and Other Energy Storage Devices

The range and diversity of batteries used as a source of electrical power is truly enormous, reflecting the immense range of uses of electrical power. They range in size from tiny button cells storing milliwatthours of energy and delivering microwatts of power to giant load levelling batteries, the size of buildings, storing megawatthours and delivering megawatts. The diverse range of applications has spawned a multitude of specialist batteries, each optimised for a particular use. Some of the applications for which unique batteries have been designed are outlined below.

	Application / Requirement	Battery type
Low power, low cost consumer applications		Low power Primary and Secondary cells. Leclanché, Alkaline, NiCad, NiMH, Lithium primary, Lithium secondary.
Power tools, cordless equipment		NiCad, NiMH, Lithium Ion
Small devices, hearing aids, watches, calculators, memory back up, wireless peripherals.		Primary button and coin cells, Zinc air, Silver oxide, Lithium Thyonyl Chloride and other Lithium primaries
Medical implants , long life, low self discharge, high reliability		Lithium primary, button and special cells
Automotive (Starting, Lighting & Ignition SLI)		Lead acid
Automotive traction batteries		Lead acid, NiMH, Lithium Ion, NaNiCl
Industrial traction batteries		Lead acid, Nickel Iron
Other traction batteries, robots, bicycles, scooters, wheelchairs, lawnmowers		Lead acid, Nickel Zinc, NiMH, Lithium Ion
Deep discharge, boats, caravans		Nickel Zinc, Lead acid, special construction
Standby power., UPS (Trickle charged)		Lead acid
Emergency power, long shelf life		Lithium cells, water activated batteries
Emergency power, stored electrolyte		Ampoule batteries
Very high power, load levelling. Pumped, renewable electrolyte		Flow batteries
Marine use, emergency power		Water activated batteries
High voltage batteries		Multiple cells
High capacity batteries, long discharge period.		Multiple cells, special constructions, special chemistries
Low Power Maximum energy density Remote instrumentation		Lithium Ion
Low Power Maximum power density Power tools		Lithium Ion
High Power Maximum energy density Traction batteries, EV applications		NiMH. Lithium Ion, NaNiCl
High Power Maximum power density Booster batteries, HEV applications		NiMH. Lithium Ion, NaNiCl
Long shelf life, low self discharge		Lithium, special chemical additives
Long cycle life		Temperature controls, built in Battery Management Systems, recombinant systems , chemical additives
Light weight, satellites, aerospace applications		Silver oxide, Nickel Hydrogen,
High power, very long discharge period, long life, low maintenance		RTG Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Nuclear battery
High energy density, light weight		Air electrolyte, Zinc air
Special shapes		Solid state, Lithium polymer
Wide temperature range		Chemical additives, built in heaters, liquid cooling
Low maintenance		Sealed cells, recombinant chemistries.
Inherently safe		Sealed cells, stored electrolyte, solid electrolyte, special chemistries
Robust		Special constructions
Missiles & munitions, safe storage, single use, robust, short one off discharge		High temperature batteries
Torpedoes, short one off discharge		Water activated batteries
Intelligent battery Communications between charger and battery		Built in electronics to control charging and discharging.
AC battery		Built in electronics (inverter) to provide AC power
Remote charging		Solar cells with deep discharge batteries
Short period power boost		Capacitors and Supercapacitors, Lithium, NiMH
Green power, non electric charging		Fuel cells, Solar cells

Note: The above batteries are available in a wide range of cell constructions optimised for different applications

For more types - see also Alternative Batteries and History 100 Battery Types

Cell Chemistry Comparison Chart