Starting
These batteries start engines on cars, boats and other vehicles. They provide a short
burst of strong power to get the engine started.
Deep cycle
These batteries power electrical accessories, such as lights, trolling motors or
winches. They provide a low, but steady level of power for a longer period of time
than a starting battery.
Industrial
These batteries, used for industrial purposes, take a deep cycle battery further. They
provide low, steady power over a much longer period of time than a typical deep cycle
battery. The plates are much thicker, and there is usually much more total energy
available for a longer period of time. An industrial battery lasts for years.
Small sealed consumer
These batteries are small, six-volt, deep cycle batteries. They power consumer
products and tools like drills, flashlights, electric starters for gas lawn mowers,
and children's toy cars.
All of these batteries are made of recycled lead and plastic, and all are recycled at
the end of their service lives. For more information on battery recycling, go to the
recycling section.
A Summary of Battery Chemistries
When the French scientist, Gaston Plante, invented the lead-acid battery in 1859, he
could not have envisioned the critical role his creation would play today in
transportation, communication, electric utilities and as emergency backup systems.
Without them, 21st century life would not be possible.
The development of more and more battery powered devices and applications has fueled
demand for new and different battery chemistries. Researchers have been looking for a
chemistry that is at once powerful, long-lived, safe, inexpensive, lightweight and
recyclable.
Following is a brief summary of lead-acid and alternate battery chemistries and their
advantages and disadvantages.
Lead-acid
Advantages: This chemistry has been proven for more than 140 years, and batteries of
all shapes and sizes, available in sealed and maintenance-free products, are mass
produced today. In their price range, lead-acid batteries provide the greatest energy
density (the amount of energy produced) per pound, have the longest life cycle and a
large environmental advantage in that they are recycled at an extraordinarily high
rate. (97 percent of the lead is recycled and reused in new batteries.) No other
chemistry can touch the infrastructure that exists for collecting, transporting and
recycling lead-acid batteries.
Disadvantages: Lead is heavier than other metals and toxic.
Aluminum-air
Advantages: This is a mechanically rechargeable primary battery system with a
capacity equal to 15-20 cycles on a lead-acid system (a cycle refers to a discharge
and a charge).
Disadvantages: Its components must be replaced frequently, water must be added
and sludge must be removed. When combined with the expense of reprocessing aluminum,
the system is nowhere near commercialization.
Lithium-ion
Advantages: It has a high specific energy (the number of hours of operation for
a given weight) making it a huge success for mobile applications such as phones and
notebook computers.
Disadvantages: More expensive than lead. The cost differential is not as
apparent with small batteries for phones and computers, and owners of these devices
don’t seem to realize (or care) that they’re paying much more per stored kilowatt hour
than other chemistries. However, because automotive batteries are larger, the cost
becomes more significant. As of now, there is not established system for recycling
large lithium-ion batteries.
Nickel-cadmium
Advantages: This chemistry is reliable, can operate in a range of temperatures,
tolerates abuse well and performs well after long periods of storage.
Disadvantages: It is three to five times more expensive than lead-acid, its
materials are toxic and its recycling infrastructure for larger nickel-cadmium
batteries is very limited.
Nickel-metal hydride
Advantages: It is reliable and lightweight. In hybrid vehicles, these batteries
are projected to have very long cycle life, equal to 100,000 miles.
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