How Do Rechargeable Lithium Batteries Work?

In the early phases of EV development, lead-acid batteries were used as a premium source of power. Nickel-cadmium batteries replaced their lead-acid alternatives in the 1990s. Since Cadmium is toxic, these batteries were phased out, and their upgraded version was introduced to the market in the 2000s in the form of nickel-metal hybrid batteries.

Nowadays, a lithium-ion battery is the perfect power source for electric vehicles and a range of other electronic devices. Due to their higher efficiency and compact structure, lithium-ion or rechargeable lithium batteries have transformed the world. Without these batteries, portable devices are worth nothing these days.

Be it a smartphone, a laptop, or an electric vehicle, they would be less advanced if they are not equipped with a rechargeable lithium battery. This read elaborates on the working principle of a lithium-ion battery, its charging time, when you should charge it, how many times you can charge it, and much more.

Are all lithium batteries rechargeable?

Let's first understand what a lithium battery is. A device that uses the unique properties of lithium to store and emit power is called a lithium battery. It uses metallic lithium as an anode. High energy density and the higher cost per unit make this battery different from all others.

Now, you might be thinking, "Are all lithium batteries rechargeable?" The answer is a big No. You can't charge all lithium batteries. Let's understand this concept by identifying the difference between lithium and lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium batteries can't be recharged, and they are known as primary batteries. The higher energy density and ability to store and provide power for a couple of months or years make them stand out in the market. These batteries are often used in smoke detectors, watches, toys, and other similar portable devices.

Lithium batteries are long-lasting and reliable, but once their energy is depleted, you can't recharge them for further use. This is why they are disposed of after a single use.

On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries are known as rechargeable lithium batteries, which means you can recharge them as many times as you want, considering your requirements. You can also call them secondary cell batteries.

When you recharge a lithium-ion battery, lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode. Similarly, while discharging, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode. If we talk about the real-life applications of lithium-ion batteries, they are used in electric vehicles, laptops, earbuds, cameras, and other similar devices.

Note: If you need reliable lithium batteries, get in touch with Renogy.

How does a lithium battery work?

Before we go into the details of how rechargeable lithium-ion batteries work, let's first look at the list of internal components it is made of.

• Cells: They are the basic unit of batteries. Cells can be pouch-shaped, cylindrical, or prismatic.
• Temperature sensors: They help the battery monitor its temperature and work accordingly to maintain the overall performance.
• Voltage tap: Its primary function is to monitor the energy capacity of each cell that makes the whole battery composition.
• Battery management system: It ensures the safety and long service of batteries by checking the voltage of each cell.
• Voltage converter: A regulator circuit or voltage converter are used in lithium-ion batteries to maintain a safe level for both current and voltage.
• Battery charge state monitor: It is responsible for controlling the charging process of a lithium-ion battery.
• Notebook controller: With this component, lithium-ion batteries can have a smooth control over power in and power out.

The charge and discharge process

Apart from the components listed above, anode, cathode, electrolyte, and separator are the basic components that are present in almost every battery pack. The separator is responsible for moving lithium ions from anode to cathode (through electrolyte) and vice versa. The movement of lithium ions activates free electrons in an anode and creates a charge at the positive collector.

Then, the current flows through a device toward the negative collector. The separator blocks the flow of electrons inside the battery. As soon as you plug in your EV battery or any other electronic device, lithium ions are released by the cathode. The anode receives these ions and makes sure your battery is recharged. This is how rechargeable lithium batteries store energy.

In comparison, when a battery discharges, lithium ions move from anode to cathode. As a result, electrons flow from one end to another.

How many times can a Lithium battery be recharged?

Well, there is no single line answer to this question. It depends on different factors, such as the type of the lithium battery and the way you use it. The cell design plays a key part in the battery lifespan.

Not all batteries are designed to perform in the same manner. For example, the lifespan of cylindrical cell batteries is way more than that of prismatic cell batteries. This is the reason most batteries use cylindrical cells.

Let's now compare the lifespan of both prismatic and cylindrical cells of a lithium battery to understand how many times you can recharge them. The lifespan or discharge cycles of prismatic battery cells are 2,000 cycles. If you stack prismatic cells in a battery pack, they can last longer than 2,000 discharge cycles.

On the other hand, the lifespan of cylindrical battery cells is up to 25,000 cycles. It is way higher than that of prismatic cells and ensures long-lasting performance without affecting the energy density.

If we talk about the lifespan of lithium polymer battery cells, their charge cycles are even lower in number than prismatic battery cells. A lithium polymer battery cell can last up to 300 to 500 charge and discharge cycles before it reaches 80% of its original performance.

How long do rechargeable lithium batteries last?

The lifespan of your rechargeable lithium battery is measured with cycles. One cycle is equal to the time a battery takes to fully charge and discharge. According to the current market standards, lithium-ion batteries are developed to last for 300 to 500 cycles. After this many cycles, the performance of a battery drops below 80%.

If we convert the number of cycles into years, the lifespan of a lithium-ion battery falls anywhere between 2 and 3 years. It is common for various portable devices, such as mobile phones and laptops that are charged and discharged on a daily basis.

Remember, the actual lifespan of your lithium-ion battery depends on different factors, including usage, charging habits, quality, and storage conditions. The more frequently a battery is charged and discharged, the quicker it will degrade. Similarly, charging at extreme temperatures or overcharging can badly affect the battery's lifespan. Don't forget to store your battery in a dry, cool environment.

When should you recharge your Lithium-ion battery?

Are you concerned about how much of the battery's capacity to use before you connect a charger? According to the manufacturers' guidelines, you should recharge your lithium-ion battery once you use 80% of the total capacity. In simple words, you should connect a charger when the charging of the battery reaches down to 20%. It will help you extend the battery's life greatly.

In the case of traditional batteries, you need to recharge them throughout the storage time, but this is not the case with lithium ion or rechargeable lithium batteries. They perform extremely well at 40% to 50% depth of discharge.

Once your lithium-ion battery is charged and discharged 30 times, let it discharge completely before you recharge it. Doing this will help avoid a digital memory. The digital memory is a condition that messes with the power guage's accuracy of your device. When you allow your battery to discharge fully, it resets the power gauge.

There are some batteries (like Dragonfly Energy batteries) that can be discharged completely before recharging them.

Lithium v.s. Lithium-ion batteries: Which are better?

As stated earlier, the primary difference between both batteries is that lithium batteries can't be recharged whereas lithium-ion batteries can be charged as many times as needed. When it comes to selecting one of them considering which is better, remember, it all depends on your usage.

The kind of use determines which battery is better to use. Though both lithium-ion and lithium batteries play a key role in our daily lives, both have different applications.

If you need longer backups (of a couple of months or years) for devices like toys, medical pacemakers, and watches, lithium batteries are the best option to choose, but you can use them for one time only. In comparison, lithium-ion batteries can be recharged for repetitive usage and are considered the best for electronic devices like smartphones and laptops.

If we compare the lifespan of both types of batteries, lithium batteries can last four times longer than that of lithium-ion batteries. Plus, lithium batteries are easier to manufacture and cost less.

Therefore, if you are wondering whether you should buy a lithium battery or a lithium-ion battery, it is always recommended to identify your usage before you make a purchase.

Conclusion

As the name depicts, rechargeable lithium batteries are the ones you can charge as many times as you want, considering your needs. So far, they are the best choice to power up most of our daily-life electronic devices, such as digital cameras and laptops.

On the other hand, lithium batteries are designed for single use only and are perfect for obtaining longer backups for watches, wall clocks, and other similar devices. Lithium-ion batteries can last for around 300 to 500 cycles or 2 to 3 years. If you want to extend the lifespan, always store your battery at a cool, dry place.

If you want to buy a trusted lithium battery after exploring a decent collection, Renogy is the best platform to contact.

FAQs

Q: Are lithium rechargeable batteries better?

A: Rechargeable lithium batteries or lithium-ion batteries are better because they can store more energy than lithium or alkaline batteries. Moreover, they come with the highest energy density so far. Moreover, lithium-ion batteries can perform very well in extreme cold and extremely hot conditions.

Q: What is the biggest disadvantage of a lithium-ion battery?

A: The biggest disadvantage of a lithium-ion battery can be the higher costs. In addition, safety concerns, limited lifespan, environmental impact, and temperature sensitivity are also the leading disadvantages associated with a rechargeable lithium battery.

Q: Which type of rechargeable battery is best?

A: Out of different types of rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hybrid, and lead-acid, lithium-ion batteries always stand out. The reason behind this fact is that a lithium-ion battery can hold a charge longer than any other type of battery. In addition, it is lightweight and can provide high voltages.

Q: Do rechargeable lithium batteries need a special charger?

A: A battery charger with the lithium charge algorithm is an ideal choice to charge your lithium-ion battery. It increases the lifespan and maximizes the performance of your battery. Though a lithium-ion battery comes with BMS that protects the battery from any kind of danger a charger can cause, you should not use the charger of any other battery like lead-acid or nickel-hybrid metal battery.