The most commonly used battery is the lead-acid battery. This is because of the simple construction of the battery and a generally low price. We provide more information on this battery type, as well as brand recommendations on our lead-acid battery page.

These are a particular type of batteries that have a number of distinguishing features:

• Lithium is a good solution when high peak power is required.
• They last on average 7 times longer than alkaline batteries.
• Lithium works at temperatures of -20 to +40 degrees.

Lithium batteries are characterised by their extremely low self-discharge. The self-discharge per year is only 1% of the capacity. The voltage of this battery is exceptionally high. This information sheet lists a number of brands that produce lithium batteries and the various product variants that come with them. Lithium is a light metal with an exceptionally high capacity (3.86 Ah/gram). When lithium is mixed with other chemicals such as manganese or sulphur, the result is a battery with high energy, low weight, reduced self-discharge and the ability to perform under extreme conditions.

Applications of lithium batteries

Lithium is used in a wide range of applications, from mobile phones and microprocessors to large industrial workplaces such as in the oil and gas industry and in space.

Click here for more information on lithium batteries.

Alkaline batteries are the most commonly used type of batteries. There are a number of characteristics of this type:

• They have a low purchase price
• The alkaline batteries deliver a lot of energy even at low temperatures
• Alkaline batteries have a low self-discharge rate

Click here for more information on alkaline batteries.

A lead-acid battery is the most commonly used type of battery. Lead-acid batteries have several advantages:

• They have a simple design
• Have a generally low price
• Are suitable for various applications such as telecommunications, data centres, railways, defence and security systems

Click here for more information on lead-acid batteries.

A lithium iron phosphate battery is a battery type that features a chemistry that has been around since 1996. A number of characteristics are mentioned below:

• Lithium iron phosphate batteries can be charged rapidly up to 100%.
• Stores energy better than most other lead-acid batteries (100% instead of 85% with other lead-acid batteries)

Click here for more information on lithium iron phosphate batteries.

This is a type of battery invented in 1899 by Waldmar Jungner. Some characteristics:

• The battery is very robust and can be recharged quickly with little effort.
• Performs well at low temperatures

Click here for more details on nickel cadmium batteries.

The main factors for this are the chemistry of the battery, ambient temperature and energy consumption of the application.

Read more information here.

Alkaline batteries, lithium batteries and specialist batteries such as Air-alkaline and ZincAir-alkaline. Alkaline batteries are often affordable and ideal for applications where power consumption is generally low. Lithium batteries last up to 7 times longer and can provide higher peak power. For those interested, we have more information on the different types of non-rechargeable batteries.

No, not the normal alkaline batteries. Rechargeable alkaline batteries do exist, but they have major disadvantages:

• Firstly, you need a special charger, which is usually relatively expensive. Charging alkaline batteries in chargers intended for genuine nickel-hydride and nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries can be very dangerous (explosion risk).

• Secondly, the voltage of an alkaline battery can quickly drop below a critical point, after which it cannot be recharged. The problem is that while using it, you do not know when this point has been reached. So you have to recharge quickly, which is a disadvantage if you want to use the device for a longer period of time.

• Thirdly, when you recharge alkaline batteries, you never get the full capacity back. Once the batteries have been used several times, the available energy quickly becomes less and less. In theory, you will be able to reload them a few dozen times at most. However, the net return is very small. Because of these disadvantages, it is better to buy actual rechargeable batteries. The only advantage in charging alkaline batteries is the higher initial voltage. But this voltage drops at a certain point even below that of real rechargeable batteries.

A distinctive system within the various primary battery types is air-alkaline. The battery uses oxygen (O2) from the air as its cathode. The oxygen is led through holes in the casing to the cathode where reduction (absorption of electrons) takes place on a carbon layer. Because the battery casing only has to house an anode, the energy density per weight is on average high, between 220-300 Wh/kg (compared to 99-123 Wh/kg for a silver-oxide battery).

An additional advantage of this battery is its relatively low cost and environmentally friendly character. These batteries have an infinite storage time until they are activated by exposing them to air. After activation, the shelf life is rather short due to high self-discharge. Another disadvantage: once activated, the chemical process of energy production cannot be stopped, but it can be slowed down.

Applications of air-alkaline batteries:

• Railway signal lighting
• Road signal lighting
• Buoyancy and signal lighting at sea
• Telecommunications
• Parking meters
• Fencing