Virtues and Virtues: [Batteries Types] Li-ion vs. Li-Po

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You cannot in any way over emphasize the massive importance of batteries in our lives.

Batteries have greatly enhanced the mobility of technology and you can’t really imagine a world without battery packs.

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) and Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) batteries are the two most common types of battery systems. Majority of smartphones draw their power from Li-on batteries while a section use Li-Po batteries.

So, what are the factors that influence the choice between Li-Ion and Li-Po batteries?

Well, here are some,

Energy Density Level

Energy density is by definition ‘the amount of energy stored in a given system’. Li-ion batteries have an average energy density of 110-160 Wh/kg, while Li-Po batteries have a 100-130 Wh/Kg average rating.

Therefore, under optimum conditions, a 1Kg Li-ion battery can produce 160 Watts of Power while a 1 Kg Li-Po battery will produce 130 watts of Power.

A win for Li-on batteries

Related: Next Generation Super Li-on Batteries to last up to Three Times longer

Battery Life          

The durability of a smartphone battery is largely determined by its cycle life.

By definition, the Cycle life of a battery is the number of charge/discharge cycles that the battery is able to support before its capacity falls below 80% of its original capacity.

Li-ion batteries have a cycle life of between 500 to 1000 charge/discharge cycles, while Li-Po batteries have a cycle life of between 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles.

Another win for Li-Ion batteries

Safety

You must have heard tales of smartphones bursting into flames and causing some serious bodily harm. In most instances, mishandled Li-Ion batteries are the culprit behind such occurrences.

Li-ion battery are susceptible to combustion when overheated or overcharged. Battery manufacturers have to include a series of protection mechanisms to keep this from happening.

Li-Po batteries have an improved resistance to overheating and overcharging, an aspect that makes them less susceptible to combusting and therefore, are much safer.

A win for Li-Po batteries

Design

Li-Ion batteries are thick, rigid and have a low level of flexibility. This makes the batteries in appropriate in the design of flexible smartphones concepts.

Li-Po batteries on the other hand, are lighter, thinner and have a flexible form factor. This aspect makes the Li-Po batteries perfect for flexible smartphones concepts.

Another win for Li-Po batteries.

Costs

Li-Po batteries are more expensive to manufacture when compared to Li-Ion batteries. Li-Po are only economical to manufacture when they are mass produced.

This is a win for Li-ion batteries.

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