Lithium-Ion Battery Pack

Lithium-ion batteries power many electronic devices including cell phones, laptops and tablets. They also provide energy to electric vehicles, hybrids and power tools.

These batteries contain critical minerals such as cobalt and graphite that cannot be easily replaced. Discarding them in the trash is a waste of these resources.

Battery packs with more than 8 grams of lithium must be shipped as Class 9 miscellaneous hazardous materials. They must be marked to identify their lithium content.

Safety

Lithium-ion batteries are used in a wide variety of devices, including cell phones, laptops, scooters and smoke alarms. While they have an excellent track record, in rare cases, they can cause fires or explosions. These batteries require special care, but if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use them correctly, they are very safe.

One of the biggest concerns about Li-ion batteries is that they are prone to short circuits, which can lead to fire. To minimize the risk, make sure that there is no metal in contact with the terminals and avoid touching the ends of the battery pack. You should also keep spare batteries in separate bags or pouches. Another safety concern is the possibility of thermal runaway, which can occur when the battery packs become overcharged or undercharged. Thermal runaway is a dangerous process that can destroy the entire battery pack and explode.

To prevent this, manufacturers test the batteries in a variety of ways. For example, they simulate a crash between an EV and an internal combustion engine car, which can spill fuel under the EV’s battery pack and ignite it. They also use a facility designed to emulate the conditions of lithium-ion battery degradation.

One important factor in reducing thermal runaway is a cooling system, which uses water or carbon dioxide to extract the heat. A cooling system can reduce the temperature of a battery pack by up to 40 degrees Celsius. It can also reduce the risk of an internal short circuit, which can cause a fire or even an explosion.

Durability

Like other rechargeable batteries, lithium-ion battery packs experience some capacity deterioration over time. This is due to cycling, elevated temperature and ageing. However, they typically last much longer than other battery models, such as nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal-hydride.

The energy density of Li-ion batteries is also very high. This allows manufacturers to make Li-ion battery pack smaller and lighter devices. They are used in many customer mobile electronics, power tools and electric vehicles.

Another advantage of Li-ion is that it can be cooled down to room temperature, which can extend the life of the battery. Cooling slows down the shuttling of lithium ions between electrodes, which is one of the causes of degradation over time. The best way to extend the lifespan of a Li-ion battery is to charge it and use it regularly, rather than leaving it in an overdischarged state for long periods of time.

Additionally, most Li-ion batteries are equipped with built-in safety mechanisms that prevent overcharging and overheating, extending the expected battery cycle life. This is a major advance over NiCad and NiMH batteries, which did not have these protections. Additionally, most manufacturers specify a maximum of 300 to 500 full discharge cycles for their Li-ion batteries.

Energy density

Energy density is one of the most important features of a battery. It refers to how much energy a battery can store for its weight and volume. It is measured in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). Lithium batteries with cobalt cathodes have the highest energy density. Other lithium batteries with manganese and nickel-cadmium cathodes have lower energy density.

Battery companies are constantly experimenting with different battery chemistries to find ones that are cheaper, denser, lighter and more powerful. These innovations can help increase the range of new EVs without increasing their size and cost.

Lithium-ion batteries have an extremely high energy density and offer a long cycle life if they are not charged too deeply or at too fast a rate. When a battery is charged too quickly, it can overcharge and cause the formation of an irreversible layer of metallic lithium on its anode. This reduces the battery’s lifespan and decreases its cycling performance.

Moreover, lithium-ion battery packs require the use of critical minerals, such as graphite, cobalt and lithium. These resources are in short supply and are susceptible to disruptions of their supply. This is why it’s so important to recycle them correctly to keep these rare resources from being depleted and lost. If you have an old lithium-ion battery, contact the company that sells or installs it to arrange for a proper recycling process.

Rechargeability

Lithium ion battery technology is used in cell phones, laptops, hybrid and electric cars. It is lightweight and offers great cycle life. However, like all lithium batteries it is dangerous if not handled properly. A short circuit in the battery pack can cause it to overheat. This can happen when the anode Li-ion battery pack and cathode metals come into contact. It can also happen if there is a charge-discharge imbalance in the battery. This is why lithium-ion batteries are built with a safety vent hole.

This hole allows the battery to expel the flammable organic solvent used as an electrolyte. The battery is then able to cool down. However, if the battery gets hot enough, it can explode. Luckily, this happens only very rarely. There is always a risk that the lithium ions in one of the cells can be plated with pure lithium metal, which is extremely flammable. This causes the battery to become a fire hazard.

To prevent this, you should always make sure your battery packs are made of lithium-ion or lithium polymer cells and not nickel, cobalt or graphite. These are considered critical minerals, meaning that they have a high risk of being disrupted by conflict or supply shortages. You should also make sure you properly dispose of your batteries and products that contain them by sending them to specialized battery recyclers, retailers participating in electronics takeback programs or by contacting your local solid waste or household hazardous waste program.