Appendix 4. Comparison of Battery Technologies

Batteries are portable sources of stored chemical energy that convert directly into electrical energy at high efficiency on demand. Primary batteries are used once and then thrown away. Secondary, or rechargeable, batteries can be electrically restored to their original chemical state.

Table A4.1 summarizes the recent and expected future world-wide market sizes for these broad classes of batteries. As of 2002, the total market was about $54 billion, with an annual overall growth rate of about 7 percent for primary cells and 8 percent for secondary cells. In the United States (not singled out in the table) 2002 battery market and battery related product market sales totalled $11.4 billion and were forecast-ed to grow to $15.5 billion by 2007, a projected average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent.

In the secondary, or rechargeable, category several entirely new classes of batteries have been commercialized during the past 15 years, including Ni-MH, Li-ion polymer, Li-ion rechargeable alkaline, and mechanically rechargeable zinc-air designs. The small, sealed battery market segment, not listed separately by Freedonia, includes nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), Ni-MH, and Li-ion. In Table A4.1, the Li-ion battery system is included in the Other category, while its competitors Ni-MH and Ni-Cd are included in the Nickel battery category. This segment serves as the energy source for the portable electron-ic device market and has seen spectacular growth over the past 10 to 12 years.

Table A4.1. Estimated Sales of Batteries, Worldwide ($, Millions)

Improved microelectronic battery charger controller technology-in particular lithium-ion polymer and lithium-ion-is enabling the commercialization of these new classes of batteries. It is also improving the marketability of existing battery systems, e.g., nickel cadmium and lead acid. In turn, this has accelerated portable computer, cellular telephone, and cordless hand tool product development to a degree that would be impossible without improved power management. Nevertheless, non-rechargeable batteries maintain their established role as the power source for many kinds of portable products.

Figure A4.1 compares the energy storage capability of these new systems. Energy storage is expressed as watt-hours per unit volume (Wh/l) and watt-hours per unit weight (Wh/kg). The larger values of Wh/l translate into a smaller cell, while larger values for Wh/kg translate into lighter weight for a given cell voltage and ampere-hour capacity. The high values of Wh/l and Wh/kg have been key factors in its rapid growth.

In the marketplace, the small, sealed rechargeable battery sys-tems form a unique market segment in the sense that they compete for similar portable applications. Sealed lead acid may also be included in this category. Table A4.2 compares the advantages and disadvantages of the various battery sys-tems along with their principal applications.

The market for portable battery-powered products has grown from a few well-established niches, such as flashlights, portable radio, cassette and CD players, and wristwatches, to a diverse rapidly growing market that encompasses electronic computers, communications and entertainment products, a variety of cordless tools, and whole new classes of military and medical products. This diversity has been accomplished because of the unique synergy between the products them-selves, the batteries they employ, and the battery charger and power management systems that charge the batteries.

Table A4.2. Summary of Performance and Applications for Small, Sealed Rechargeable Batteries

Table A4.3 summarizes market sizes for small, sealed batter-ies and the expected near-term trend as of 2000. Li-ion and Li-ion polymer systems, along with Ni-MH and Ni-Cd systems, compete in the market segment for small, sealed, rechargeable batteries. Notebook computers and cellular telephones are the major applications for Li-ion batteries. Other applications include video cameras, digital cameras, and DVD and CD players. These have been high growth applications for almost 10 years. The high-energy, lightweight Li-ion batteries give these devices longer run time and greater portability and have, over the past 10 years, doubled the runtime possible between charges, which has been a critical factor in gaining consumer acceptance of new products. Formerly, the Ni-Cd system dominated this category. Because of its lower energy storage capability, it is no longer a big factor in this segment, although Ni-Cd does find application in low-cost devices and power tools.

Table A4.3. Market Data for Unit Cell Production and Dollar Value for Rechargeable Batteries for 2000 with Estimated Growth to 2003

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Date created: July 21, 2005
Last updated: August 4, 2005

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