Battery types

carbon zinc (standard-duty)

• 1.5 V

• internal resistance: medium

• discharge rate: medium

• cost: low

  • toys & general-purpose equipment

zinc-chloride (heavy-duty)

• 1.5 V

• internal resistance: low

• discharge rate: med-high

• cost: low-med

  • motor-driven portables & clocks

Alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide (alkaline)

• 1.5 V

• internal resistance: very low

• discharge rate: high

• cost: med-high

  • photoflash, digital cameras, transceivers

Lithium-manganese dioxide (lithium)

• 3.0 V

• internal resistance: low

• discharge rate: med-high

• cost: high

  • watches, calculators, cameras

Zinc-mercuric oxide (mercury cell)

• 1.35 V

• internal resistance: low

• discharge rate: low

• cost: high

  • calculators, pagers, hearing aids

Zinc-silver oxide (silver-oxide cell)

• 1.35 V

• internal resistance: low

• discharge rate: low

• cost: high

  • calculators, pagers, hearing aids

Zinc-oxygen (zinc air cell)

• 1.45 V

• internal resistance: medium

• discharge rate: low

• cost: medium

  • pagers, hearing aids

Sealed lead-acid

• 2.0 V

• energy density: low

• cycle life: long

• charge time: 8-16h

• discharge rate: medium

• cost: low

  • emergency lighting, alarm systems, solar power

Rechargeable alkaline-manganese

• 1.5 V

• energy density: high

• cycle life: short-med

• charge time: 2-6h

• discharge rate: medium

• cost: low

  • toys, portable radios

NiCad

• 1.2 V

• energy density: medium

• cycle life: long

• charge time: 14-16h

• discharge rate: high

• cost: medium

  • portable tools, model cars, camcorders, test equipment

NiMH

• 1.2 V

• energy density: high

• cycle life: medium

• charge time: 2-4h

• discharge rate: medium

• cost: medium

  • cordless mobile phones, DVDs, power tools

NiZn

• 1.65 V

• energy density: high

• cycle life: med-high

• charge time: 1-2h

• discharge rate: —

• cost: medium

  • environmentally friendly

NiFe

• 1.4 V

• energy density: high

• cycle life: extremely long

• charge time: long

• discharge rate: —

• cost: low

  • forklifts

Li-ion/LiPo

• 3.6 V

• energy density: very high

• cycle life: medium

• charge time: 3-4h

• discharge rate: med-high

• cost: high

  • compact cellphones & computers, digital cameras

Rechargeable alkaline-manganese (RAM)

inexpensive, low-voltage replacement for NiCad or NiMH batteries (& low quality)

Supercapacitor

battery-capacitor hybrid, used in tandem with superior batteries for current handling

• infinite life cycle