Ni mh or li ion battery: which one is more suitable for you?
This article will provide an in-depth comparison between the two to help you understand the key characteristics of these two types of batteries.
Let you make wise choices that suit yourself.
Table des matières
What does nimh on the battery mean?
Nimh refers to the concept of nickel metal hydride battery, which means it is a nickel metal hydride battery.
What is a nickel metal hydride battery?
Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are gradually replacing nickel cadmium batteries that have been phased out due to environmental issues.
NiMH batteries consist of a positive electrode made of nickel hydroxide and an electrolyte solution of potassium hydroxide.
The negative electrode is made of a metal alloy that can absorb hydrogen atoms (generally referred to as a hydrogen absorbing alloy), which makes it unique in nickel based batteries.
Each NiMH battery cell can generate a voltage of 1.2V. Due to its high energy density and capacitance, NiMH batteries are considered one of the most efficient nickel based batteries.
NiMH batteries are divided into two types: sealed and ventilated (open).
Widely used in various devices such as mobile phones, cameras, emergency lighting, ordinateurs portables, and hybrid vehicles.
What does the li-ion on the battery mean?
This is a way of writing lithium ion, which means it is a lithium ion battery.
Qu'est-ce qu'une batterie lithium-ion?
Lithium ion batteries belong to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and their design and technology are more advanced compared to most batteries on the market.
The cathode of lithium-ion batteries is mainly composed of lithium metal oxide, while the anode is usually composed of graphite coated with copper film.
The electrolyte of the battery is an organic solvent containing lithium salt.
Compared to nickel hydrogen batteries, lithium-ion battery cells have higher energy density and can output voltages up to 3.6V.
Here are some common specifications of lithium batteries:
Nimh battery vs Lithium ion battery: Which one is better？
From a technical perspective alone, it cannot be simply said that lithium-ion batteries are necessarily “better” than nickel hydrogen batteries.
Because there are significant differences in chemical properties between the two.
En termes de performances, lithium-ion batteries outperform ni-mh battery in many aspects.
Par exemple, the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries is usually 5 années, while the lifespan of ni-mh battery is between 2 et 5 années.
Lithium ion batteries have a faster charging speed and can maintain good performance at extreme temperatures.
And it has a longer charging cycle than ni-mh battery.
Cependant, ni-mh battery have a cost advantage.
Its investment cost is much lower than that of lithium-ion batteries. And almost no additional maintenance is required.
Ni MH battery has a smaller impact on the environment.
And it will be easier to transport, not subject to the strict regulations that lithium-ion batteries must follow during transportation.
Ni mh or Li ion battery: Their advantages and disadvantages
When comparing lithium-ion batteries and nickel hydrogen batteries, it is important to weigh their advantages and disadvantages based on your own needs.
This is the only way to determine which battery type is more suitable for your specific needs and usage scenarios.
Nickel metal hydride battery’s advantages
They are produced in standard sizes such as AA and AAA, making them perfectly compatible with numerous devices.
During the manufacturing process, the content of active substances is relatively low, which means they are safer.
They can be fully discharged to 0% without significantly affecting battery performance.
Par rapport aux batteries lithium-ion, they have lower prices and higher cost-effectiveness.
Both in terms of usage and transportation, it has lower costs.
The shortcomings of nickel hydrogen batteries
Nickel metal hydride battery’s disadvantages
Par rapport aux batteries lithium-ion, nickel hydrogen batteries have a higher self discharge rate.
Some models may lose up to 50% of their battery life within a month.
Although this situation is not common, there are also more things to pay attention to when choosing.
The standard voltage of nickel hydrogen batteries is 1.2V, which is lower than that of lithium-ion batteries.
Nickel hydrogen batteries are sensitive to temperature changes and their voltage is prone to drop in high temperature environments.
The charging speed of nickel hydrogen batteries is slow, usually taking 8 à 12 heures.
This contrasts with the charging time of 3 à 5 hours for lithium-ion batteries.
Fast charging may cause damage to nickel hydrogen batteries, but most lithium batteries have mature fast charging technology.
Avantages des batteries lithium-ion:
Lithium ion batteries have a high battery capacity, typically exceeding 2500mAh.
Their average voltage rating is very high, not less than 3.2V.And most of them support fast charging technology.
Lithium ion batteries are not only lightweight, but also relatively safe to use.
They are capable of operating within a wide temperature range of -20 ℃ to 60 ℃.
Under normal use, the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries can reach up to 10 années.
Low self discharge rate, seulement environ 3.5% par mois. This means that even if the battery is stored or idle for a long time, the power loss is minimal.
Lithium ion batteries have high compatibility with various devices and do not require maintenance on a daily basis.
Inconvénients des batteries lithium-ion:
Coût élevé:
Compared with nickel hydrogen batteries, the main disadvantage of lithium-ion batteries is their higher cost.
Circuit protection is required:
Lithium ion batteries require a complex protection circuit to prevent overcharging, over discharging, surchauffe, and short circuits, which increases the cost and complexity of the battery pack.
Environmental impact:
The lithium and other chemicals contained in lithium-ion batteries have a certain impact on the environment, and improper handling may cause environmental pollution.
Risques de sécurité:
In extreme cases, such as battery manufacturing defects, overcharging, or external short circuits, lithium-ion batteries may experience thermal runaway, entraînant un incendie ou une explosion.
Charging cycle limit:
Lithium ion batteries should not undergo very shallow charging cycles as this may accelerate battery aging.
Memory effect:
Although the memory effect of modern lithium-ion batteries is not significant, it is still necessary to avoid fully discharging before recharging to maintain battery health.
Transportation and storage restrictions:
Due to safety considerations, lithium-ion batteries need to comply with specific and very strict regulations during transportation and storage.
This will increase logistics costs and complexity.
Are nickel hydrogen batteries the same as lithium batteries?
Nickel metal hydride vs lithium ion batteries: they are not the same and cannot be used interchangeably.
Both types of batteries are rechargeable and can power various common devices.
But compared to nickel hydrogen batteries, lithium-ion batteries can power more types of devices.
Although nickel hydrogen batteries are cheaper, lithium-ion batteries have higher energy density and voltage than nickel hydrogen batteries, and are more adaptable and environmentally friendly.
The application of lithium ion battery vs nickel metal hydride batteries
Although there are similarities in some aspects, lithium-ion batteries and nickel hydrogen batteries have different application scenarios and uses.
Application scope of ni-mh battery:
Nickel hydrogen batteries are known for their ability to provide instantaneous high current, making them suitable for devices that require a large amount of discharge at once.
According to specific requirements, nickel hydrogen batteries can be designed as individual batteries or assembled into large battery packs.
It is widely used in fields such as flashlights, toys, portable devices, cameras, and power tools.
Application areas of lithium-ion batteries:
En revanche, lithium-ion batteries are known for their excellent energy density, high voltage, and large capacity.
These characteristics make lithium-ion batteries a popular choice for consumer electronics and daily applications.
Donc, it is suitable for motorcycles, golf carts, véhicules électriques, and solar energy storage solutions.
Can I use lithium-ion batteries instead of ni-mh battery?
It depends on the specific equipment used.
But usually it’s not possible.
Due to differences in size, shape, and voltage between ni-mh battery and lithium-ion batteries, they often cannot be used interchangeably.
If your device is compatible with both battery types, it is usually clearly stated in the user manual.
Can you fully discharge the ni-mh battery?
From a technical perspective, ni-mh batteries are not affected by the “memory effect”, but their voltage will gradually decrease over time.
To alleviate this phenomenon, it is recommended to thoroughly discharge and charge nickel hydrogen batteries every three months.
Lithium ion batteries do not require such operations.
Ni MH Battery vs Lithium: Which rechargeable battery has the longest lifespan?
In the comparison between lithium-ion batteries and ni-mh batteries, lithium-ion batteries exhibit longer service life and lower self discharge rate.
Lithium ion batteries can be recharged about 4000 fois, equivalent to a lifespan of approximately 10 années.
The service life of nickel hydrogen batteries is usually only 3 années.
Which type of battery is safer: nimh or lithium batteries?
Comparing lithium-ion batteries and nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries are relatively safer.
But Ni MH batteries are also susceptible to temperature changes.
Excessive temperature can cause the battery to overheat, posing a potential fire hazard.
Lithium ion batteries have stronger temperature tolerance, but once they experience dangerous situations such as leakage or combustion, the impact can be more severe than that of Ni MH batteries.
Which is better in energy storage between lithium-ion batteries and nickel hydrogen batteries?
Lithium ion batteries perform better in terms of energy retention.
NIMH battery lose a large amount of stored energy due to their high self discharge rate, while lithium-ion batteries can more effectively maintain power and maintain electricity for a long time.
So currently, lithium-ion batteries are commonly chosen in solar energy storage systems.
Do nickel metal hydride battery or lithium-ion batteries require special chargers?
There are differences in charging requirements between nickel hydrogen batteries and lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium ion batteries typically require a charger with safety monitoring capabilities.
Require it to be able to track the charging status and automatically power off when abnormalities are detected.
En revanche, the charging process of nickel hydrogen batteries is more complex.
Because they do not possess the “floating charge” voltage characteristics of lithium-ion batteries.
Nickel hydrogen batteries need to be charged through a constant current method, and overcharging can easily damage them.
Donc, the charging of nickel hydrogen batteries usually does not use a single technology, but combines multiple charging methods to ensure safety.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries typically require supervision during charging.
When choosing a charger, make sure it matches your battery type and voltage requirements.
Otherwise, it may not only shorten its lifespan, but also directly damage the battery.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you have gained a comprehensive and profound understanding of nickel metal hydride battery and lithium ion battery.
If you are just looking for high-quality lithium batteries, then you can refer to Haut 7 Fabricants de batteries au lithium-ion 2024.
