- Year not given
Comparing battery characteristics
Short answer
Lead-acid is cheap and common but heavy. Li-ion offers the highest energy density (100–250 Wh/kg) and efficiency (90–95%) with long cycle life. Flow batteries provide the longest life (10,000+ cycles) for grid storage. Key metrics include voltage, density, cost, and safety.
Compare the characteristics of various types of batteries.
The common characteristics used to compare batteries are nominal cell voltage, energy density, power density, cycle life, efficiency, self-discharge, cost, safety and environmental impact. (Values are typical and vary by manufacturer.)
| Characteristic | Lead-acid | NiCd | NiMH | Li-ion | Flow (vanadium) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell voltage (V) | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 3.2–3.7 | 1.2–1.4 |
| Energy density (Wh/kg) | 30–50 | 40–60 | 60–120 | 100–250 | 15–25 |
| Cycle life | 300–1000 | 1000–2000 | 500–1000 | 500–3000+ | 10,000+ |
| Round-trip efficiency | 70–85% | 70–80% | 65–80% | 90–95% | 65–80% |
| Self-discharge (per month) | 3–5% | 15–20% | 20–30% | 1–3% | Very low |
| Memory effect | No | Yes | Little | No | No |
| Cost | Lowest | Medium | Medium | Higher (falling) | High |
| Safety | Acid, hydrogen gas | Toxic cadmium | Good | Fire risk (thermal runaway) | Safe |
| Typical use | Vehicles, UPS, solar home systems | Tools, emergency lights | Hybrid cars, AA | EVs, phones, grid | Large grid storage |
Summary: lead-acid is cheap and common in Nepal for inverters and solar systems but heavy; Li-ion has the best energy density and life and is taking over; flow batteries are best for long-duration storage.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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