Lithium-Ion Technology

Technology in which energy is stored in batteries containing lithium-ion electrolyte. It offers a number of technical advantages, including a high energy density (two to five times greater than for standard nickel-metal hydride batteries) and no memory effect (certain batteries deteriorate if they are recharged after being only partially discharged). The main disadvantage of lithium-ion technology is its high cost, which is why its use was long confined to small devices such as computers, mobile phones and MP3 players. High-power lithium-ion batteries are now used in electric and hybrid vehicles and in the aerospace industry.