There is an old saying that says ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. We use it to express the fact that becoming too familiar with a person or thing can lead us to dislike, or even despise, that person or thing. Is it true? Well, consider the lithium-ion battery. We may not look on it with contempt, but it certainly doesn’t get a whole lot of love. We really take li-ion batteries for granted.
Have you ever stopped to consider how many devices in your home are powered by lithium-ion batteries? Take a few minutes and make a list. You might be surprised by the number you end up with. Here’s the thing: we rarely stop to think about the batteries in our devices. We just expect them to do what they do.
Another old saying says that ‘distance makes the heart grow fonder’. Imagine if the world’s supply of lithium-ion batteries suddenly dried up. It wouldn’t take long to start missing them. You can bet on that.
Better Than Alkaline Disposables
There is a good reason so many device manufacturers now rely on lithium-ion batteries. That reason is no more complicated than the fact that lithium-ion batteries are better than disposable alkaline products. In fact, the two technologies are not even in the same league.
About the only advantage disposable alkaline batteries have over their lithium-ion counterpart is shelf life. Under the right conditions, an alkaline battery can sit on the shelf for years and still work just fine. That’s due to the fact that alkaline self-discharge rates are so low. But that’s about all disposable batteries have going for them.
If kept properly charged, lithium-ion batteries will perform just as well. And if you buy a brand like Pale Blue Earth (PBE), you’ll get a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged via USB cable 1000+ times. A single 4-pack of PBE AA batteries could last for years, depending on your usage.
All Types of Devices
PBE lithium-ion batteries are manufactured in the most common form factors. We are talking AA, AAA, etc. But what about unconventional form factors? That’s not a problem. Manufacturers can make lithium-ion batteries for all kinds of devices. Let’s start with your cell phone.
Whether your phone’s battery is replaceable or hard-wired, it offers reliable service day in and day out. If you are like me, your phone runs 24/7. You rarely shut it off. When the battery runs low, you plug it into a wall outlet or USB port. An hour later, it’s good to go.
Moving on, this post was not constructed via manual typing. I use voice recognition software instead. I speak and the computer turns my words into text. My voice is captured by a wireless mic hooked to my belt. Take a guess as to what powers that mic. If you guessed a lithium-ion battery, you’re correct. I can use the mic continuously for 5-6 hours before recharging. It fully recharges in less than an hour – plenty of time for me to grab some lunch.
Ubiquitous Lithium-Ion
If we needed a physical object to help define the term ‘ubiquitous’, the lithium-ion battery would do nicely. It is everywhere. It is connected to all sorts of devices that power our day-to-day lives. The li-ion battery is so ubiquitous that we take it for granted.
Our familiarity with li-ion batteries may not lead to contempt necessarily, but how many of us truly appreciate how convenient they make our lives? If we were honest with ourselves, we would probably have to conclude that the lithium-ion battery doesn’t get nearly enough love.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.