Introduction
In gadgets and tech, we all need batteries that work well, last long, and give us the power we need. The two types of batteries, lithium-ion and lithium-polymer, are like the superheroes of the battery world. Basically, they help keep our phones, laptops, electric cars, and even extensive energy storage systems running. In this blog, we will closely examine these two battery types to know who wins the battle: LiPo Battery vs Lithium-ion battery.
We’ll talk about what makes them unique, the good and not-so-good things about them, and how to pick the right one for your gadgets. Whether you love tech, build things, or just want to know more about how your gadgets stay powered, this guide will help you understand which battery is the best choice.
Key Takeaways
| Lithium-ion is the dominant type of rechargeable batteries, known for their high energy density, excellent charging efficiency, high discharge power, and low self-discharge rates. They are used widely in mobile phones, electric vehicles (EVs), and solar energy storage systems. |
| LiPo batteries use a polymer electrolyte, offering higher specific energies, making them suitable for applications where weight is critical |
| Factors such as power supply needs, design flexibility, cost, safety, and charging speeds play crucial roles in deciding between the two. |
| The importance of assessing the characteristics of Li-ion and LiPo batteries against one's requirements, highlighting the ongoing advancements in battery technology that continue to improve their energy density, safety, and affordability. |
Lithium Ion Batteries
At present, lithium-ion is the prevailing type of rechargeable battery used. These batteries, like mobile phones and electric vehicles, provide energy for our paydays. Essentially, lithium-ion batteries consist of one or multiple cells that hold lithium ions and are accompanied by a safeguarding circuit board. After placing these cells into a device and incorporating the circuit board, they are transformed into functioning batteries.
Features
A battery comprises an anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and a positive and negative current collector. The anode and cathode play a role in storing the lithium. The electrolyte moves positively charged lithium ions from the anode to the cathode and back through the separator. This movement of lithium ions creates free electrons in the anode, resulting in a charge at the positive current collector. Finally, the electric current travels from the current collector with a charger through a powered device, like a cell phone or computer, to the negative current collector. Thus, the separator prevents the flow of electrons within the battery.
Advantages
| Lithium-ion batteries have an exceptionally high energy density. They can store more energy within the same size as other batteries, resulting in higher power densities surpassing current lithium-ion technology. | |
| The charging efficiency of lithium-ion batteries is excellent. Thanks to the clever charging algorithm implemented by the BMS (Battery Management System), these batteries lose less energy during the charging and discharging compared to other battery types. This is especially beneficial when storing large amounts of energy, such as in electric vehicles (EVs) and solar energy storage systems. | |
| The discharge power of lithium-ion batteries is exceptionally high. Battery packs containing high-power cells can deliver significant power, such as instant power for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage systems. | |
| Lithium-ion batteries also have reduced self-discharge. Although low self-discharge NiMH batteries are available, lithium-ion batteries are inherently low self-discharge. | |
| Exceptionally elevated cell voltage. This implies that fewer cells are connected sequentially to produce a specific voltage that can effortlessly energize appliances. | |
| Exceptionally secure and structurally consistent. An intelligent BMS is crucial for the efficiency of lithium batteries; it serves as the battery's central processing unit and is accountable for sophisticated surveillance and control to guarantee security, efficiency, charging speeds, and prolonged lifespan. |
Disadvantages
| Lithium-ion cells and batteries are not as durable as some rechargeable technologies; they must be protected from overcharging and over-discharging. | |
| Lithium-ion batteries will naturally deteriorate over time. Typically, Lithium-ion batteries can only handle 500 – 1000 charge and discharge cycles before their capacity decreases to 50%. | |
| This drawback of Lithium-ion batteries has become more prominent in recent years. Many restrictions exist for transporting lithium-ion batteries by air, especially in significant quantities. | |
| Lithium-ion battery has low discharge when not in use. The overall integrity of this battery remains intact even with a partial discharge. However, complete discharge or when the voltage of a lithium-ion cell drops below a specific level, it becomes inoperable. | |
| Lithium-ion batteries can explode if subjected to excessive heat or overcharging. This is due to the formation of gases from the electrolyte's breakdown, which increases the internal pressure of the cell. | |
| Lithium-ion batteries are vulnerable to the adverse effects of excessive heat caused by either device overheating or overcharging. Heat causes the cells or battery packs to deteriorate more rapidly than usual. |
Lithium Polymer Batteries (LiPo or Li-Po batteries)
A type of battery known as lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery, also referred to as Li-pol, lithium-poly, and other names, differs from traditional Li-ion batteries as it utilizes a polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid one. The electrolyte used in all LiPo batteries is a high-conductivity gel polymer. Lithium polymer cells have progressed from lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries. LiPos offers higher specific energies than other lithium batteries, making them suitable for applications where weight plays a crucial role, such as mobile devices, drones, and certain electric vehicles.
Features
Lithium-polymer batteries have become popular due to their advanced features, although they were initially not as widely used as lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are lighter but physically larger or taller, often enclosed in a flexible casing, contributing to their durability and ability to withstand higher temperatures. Lithium-polymer batteries can handle much higher charging rates, making them perfect for the super-fast charging technologies in modern phones, capable of charging at 100W, 150W, or even 200W. Their gel-like electrolyte makes them safer, reducing the risk of swelling or leaking. They are preferred in devices not used regularly, such as drones, as they discharge less when idle.
Advantages
| The operating voltage of lithium-ion batteries is high, ranging from 3-5 volts depending on the specific chemistry. This enables them to deliver equivalent power at a loPowerurrent, resulting in longer battery life on a single charge. | |
| Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy capacity, making them lightweight and compact. NCA has a usable charge storage capacity of about 180-200 mAh/g, which is significantly higher than alternative materials such as LiCoO2 (148 mAh/g), LiFePO4 (165 mAh/g), and NMC 333 (170 mAh/g). | |
| Unlike NiCd and older NiMH batteries, Li-ion batteries do not experience any memory effect and can be stored for up to 5 years without losing their effectiveness. Ni-Cd cells required periodic discharge to prevent the memory effect. | |
| Self-discharge in Li-ion rechargeable batteries is typically reported by manufacturers to be around 1.5-2% per month. The self-discharge rate is even higher in older rechargeable batteries, especially those with nickel-based components. For instance, a newly charged nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery loses 10% of its charge within the first 24 hours and continues to discharge at approximately 10% per month after that. | |
| The load characteristics of a lithium-ion cell or battery are pretty satisfactory. They deliver a reasonably consistent 3.6 volts per cell until the final charge is depleted. |
Disadvantages
| An electronic system to manage batteries is necessary. Monitoring electronics are used in lithium-ion batteries to guarantee protection against excessive charging and draining. | |
| Also, a system to manage heat is necessary. Batteries tend to generate heat when they are being charged or discharged, especially at high current levels. Typically, large battery packs like the ones utilized in electric vehicles are fitted with thermal management systems to maintain a temperature range between 15 °C (59 °F) and 35 °C. | |
| Aging is one of the main drawbacks of lithium-ion batteries for consumer electronics. This can occur over time or based on the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged. For example, modern 18650 lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in laptops, have an average lifespan of 300 to 500 charge-discharge cycles. However, this lifespan can decrease significantly to 200 cycles in situations with a high C-rate or DOD. | |
| Another disadvantage of lithium-ion batteries is their higher cost compared to NiMH cells. GenerallCosthey are approximately 40% more expensive to manufacture. |
LiPo Battery vs. Lithium-Ion Battery
There are numerous distinctions between lithium polymer batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Each would constitute what is a better choice for you.
① Electrolyte Material
One significant contrast is the electrolyte material used. While lithium-ion batteries employ a liquid or gel electrolyte between the anode and cathode, lithium polymer batteries utilize a polymer electrolyte that can be either solid or colloidal, as well as an organic electrolyte.
② Shape
The lithium polymer battery has the advantage of being able to be fabricated with a thinner structure, varying area, and diverse shapes. This is because its electrolyte can be solid or colloidal, unlike the liquid electrolyte used in lithium-ion batteries. Consequently, lithium-ion batteries necessitate a solid enclosure as secondary packaging to accommodate the electrolyte, thereby adding extra weight to the battery.
③ Power
In terms of power generation, both breweries are highly effective. However, the lithium-ion battery surpasses the lithium-polymer battery power production due to its power efficiency and prevalence. Furthermore, this is attributed to the lithium-ion battery possessing higher power levels.
④ Cost
The lithium-polymer battery tends to be more expensive when compared to lithium-polymer and lithium-ion batteries. The cost of lithium-ion batteries per kWh decreased by 14 percent between 2022 and 2023. The lithium-ion battery price was about $139 per kWh in 2023. It is said that lithium-polymer batteries have rates that are twice than that. Therefore, the lithium-ion battery is significantly more cost-effective.
Choosing between the two: LiPo vs Lithium Ion Battery
When comparing lithium polymer batteries to lithium-ion batteries, deciding which battery to choose depends on what is better for your application scenarios and the user’s preferences. It is not about determining which is superior to the other but what the user prefers. If you require a battery with a sufficient power supply, then the lithium-polymer battery would be ideal. However, if you need power for a prolonged period, the lithium-ion battery with a superior battery cycle would be a perfect choice.
Which type of battery to choose, Li-ion or LiPo, also depends on the device’s specific empowered user’s preferences. Moreover, li-ion batteries may be preferable if the device requires a small size, affordability, and long life span. On the contrary, if fast charging, lightweight design, and improved safety are essential, LiPo batteries might be considered superior.
Additionally, it is essential to mention that both types of batteries are constantly advancing in terms of energy density, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, emerging technologies such as solid-state batteries have the potential to surpass the current performance and safety of Li-ion and LiPo batteries, thus potentially revolutionizing battery technology in consumer electronics.
If you want to know more about what batteries to get, check out our video here:
Conclusion
The debate of lipo battery vs lithium-ion is not about declaring a definitive winner but understanding which battery type aligns with your specific requirements. Whether you prioritize power density, safety, design flexibility, or cost, both battery types offer unique advantages that cater to different applications. Moreover, as technology progresses, the lines between these batteries blur, with advancements to enhance their energy density, safety, and affordability. Consequently, the choice between lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries depends on carefully assessing their characteristics against the backdrop of your needs, ensuring that the devices powering our lives are efficient and aligned with our technological aspirations and safety standards.
Illuminate Your Life!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are lithium-ion batteries and lithium-polymer batteries the same?
Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries are different in electrolyte composition but belong to the same family of rechargeable lithium-based battery technologies. However, each type has its own advantages and limitations.
2. Are lithium batteries safer than other battery types?
Yes, lithium batteries, including lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries, are generally considered safer than other battery types. They have built-in safety features, such as protection circuits, to prevent overcharging, overheating, and short circuits. However, properly handling and using lithium batteries is still essential to ensure safety.
3. What is the lifespan of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries?
The lifespan of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries varies depending on usage, operating conditions, and charging/discharging cycles. Note that this is only for rechargeable batteries and still depends on the power source and which one can hold the highest voltage. On average, these batteries can retain about 80 charging cycles.
