12.3.3 Batteries

Learn the concepts behind battery power technologies.

All laptops and other portable devices use some sort of battery. By definition, a battery is power storage that provides electricity to the device it's connected to.

Battery Types

Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)

The first type of streamlined, powerful, and affordable battery. Suffered from several shortcomings:

• developed memory (what does that mean)
• large and heavy
• extremely heat-sensitive
• made of toxic materials (the cadmium in nickel cadmium)

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)

The replacement to NiCd batteries. A much more efficient battery, boasting a higher energy density along with having 2x the power capacity. Their primary was their sensitivity to extreme temperatures.

Lithium Ion

The most prolific battery found today. Almost all mobile devices, not only the laptop or the notebook, use it. Even modern EVs use lithium-ion batteries. The LI standard reduced weight by 25%, is immune to memory, and doesn't contain any hazardous elements.

Long, long, ago, however, lithium ion batteries had a problem where they would randomly swell. When our naturally curious monkey-brain human selves would see this and go poking around, they could even explode and start fires. If a lithium-ion battery ever explodes near you, remember to NOT throw water over it because lithium reacts with water. Instead, get a Class D or higher fire extinguisher to put out the fire, or call your local emergency response authorities.

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