The latest buzz in batteries is lithium ion technology. Today, lithium-ion batteries are the common source for power in many everyday devices, including smartphones, computers, power tools, and automobiles. Reliable portable power is vital as technology continues to evolve with an emphasis on speed, big-data and mobility.

Tennant is increasingly using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (Li-on), as a power source to select equipment. The five major advantages of lithium-ion (Li-on) batteries fall under the following categories: longevity, charging speed and safety, ease of charging, and maintenance. Before we dive into the details let's briefly define lithium-ion cells and the science behind them.

What are the differences between lithium-ion batteries and lithium battery?

Lithium-ion battery are rechargeable, unlike traditional wet batteries. Li-ion batteries can also be recharged hundreds more times than traditional wet batteries and are much more stable. These batteries have a higher energy density, greater voltage capacity, and a lower self-discharge than other rechargeable ones. This results in higher power efficiency since a single-cell has a longer life span than other types of battery.

A lithium-ion, or Li-ion, battery is an advanced technology that uses lithiumions as a key component in its electrochemistry. During a discharge, the lithium atoms in anode are ionized. They then separate from their electrons. The lithiumions move from anode to pass through the electrolyte, until they reach cathode. Here they recombine and become electrically neutralized. The size of the lithium ions is small enough that they can pass through a micropermeable separation between the cathode and anode. Because lithium is so small, (third only after hydrogen and helium), Liion batteries are capable to store very high voltages and large volumes of charge.

You can use many materials to make lithium-ion batteries. The most common combination is graphite (anode) and lithium cobaltoxid (cathode). This combination is most often found in portable electronic gadgets like laptops and smartphones. Another cathode material is lithium manganese, which is used in hybrid electric and electrical automobiles. As an electrolyte, Li-ion cells typically use ether (a category of organic compound) as the primary component.

What are the main advantages of Lithium-ion batteries?

Compared to the other high-quality rechargeable battery technologies (nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal-hydride), Li-ion batteries have a number of advantages. They boast one of today's highest energy densities (100-265Wh/kg or 250-670Wh/L). The Li-ion battery cell can also deliver up to 3.6 Volts. This 3x higher than NiCd or NiMH technologies. Li-ion batteries have the ability to deliver large amounts of current, making them ideal for high-power application. Additionally, they are relatively low-maintenance, meaning that they don't need scheduled cycling to keep their battery life. There is no memory effect in Li-ion batteries. This is a dangerous process that causes a battery's capacity to drop if it is subjected to repeated partial charge/discharge cycles. This is a major advantage over NiCd and NiMH, both of which can display this effect. Also, Li-ion cells have a low self-discharge of about 1.5-2% per calendar month. They are less toxic than Ni-Cd and have a lower self-discharge rate.

These benefits have seen Li-ion battery replace Ni-Cd in the market for portable electronic gadgets (such as laptops and smartphones). In some cases, Li-ion batteries can also be used to power electrical systems in aerospace applications. These include the environmentally-friendly Boeing 787. Where weight is a significant factor, lithium-ion batteries are also used. Clean energy perspectives, a lot of the potential for Li-ion technologies is in their potential application in battery-powered vehicles.