What are the benefits of using lithium-ion batteries?
There are many tools around us that run on electricity. Taking advantage of the benefit that they are small and powerful, lithium-ion batteries are incorporated into a variety of devices. In particular, products such as smartphones, PCs, and digital cameras became smaller, lighter, and longer lasting after they started using lithium-ion batteries. Electric vehicles were initially equipped with nickel-metal hydride batteries. However, they now use lithium-ion batteries because of their benefits in being powerful and having low self-discharge and because they do not suffer from the non-user-friendly inability to allow top-up charging like nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are also used for small home appliances such as cordless vacuum cleaners and irons, vehicles such as electric bicycles and electric motorcycles, and applications such as storing electricity generated during the day using a solar power generation system at home.
Lithium-ion batteries are smaller and more powerful than other batteries: Secondary batteries that can be recharged and used repeatedly like lithium-ion batteries include nickel-metal hydride batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries in addition to lead-acid batteries. The most obvious advantage of lithium-ion batteries compared to these batteries is that they are small and light, and yet powerful.
Lithium-ion batteries stand up well to repeated charging and discharging: Lithium-ion batteries do not utilize chemical reactions like other secondary batteries when making electricity. Therefore, compared to other secondary batteries, their electrodes deteriorate less, allowing them to stand up very well to repeated charging and discharging.
Lithium-ion batteries can be fast-charging: A major feature of lithium-ion batteries is that they can be charged quickly. But fast charging, or charging done in a short time, is something that secondary batteries other than lithium-ion batteries can also do. However, with nickel-metal hydride batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries, it was difficult to determine when charging was finished, so fast charging was not put to practical use. Fast charging of lithium-ion batteries has been implemented because the charger can determine when charging is finished.
Lithium-ion batteries support wireless charging: Wireless charging, or charging without a charging cable, is also possible with secondary batteries other than lithium-ion batteries, just like fast charging. However, since wireless charging technology was established in 2007, making it a relatively new technology, it was adopted for lithium-ion batteries, which were already expected to become widespread. Research is being conducted into a system that will make it possible in the future to charge electric vehicles simply by parking them in a parking lot.
Pros of electric vehicles
There are many benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) over conventional petrol or diesel cars. All-electric cars and plug-in electric cars are great for drivers who want to reduce emissions, reduce fuel costs, and drive nice vehicles. However, battery charging can take a long time which may not fit driving needs and the upfront costs mean that the vehicles are a larger investment. It is ultimately up to the driver to decide if this kind of vehicle is the right fit and if so, taking steps even further to reduce emissions by integrating solar panel systems into their vehicle charging.
Cheaper to run: The cost of the electricity required to charge an EV is around 40% less than the cost to use petrol for a similar sized vehicle driving the same distance1. The cost will be lower if you charge your EV from your solar PV system or at free charging stations.
Cheaper to maintain: A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) has fewer moving parts than a conventional petrol/diesel car. Servicing is relatively easy, less frequent and overall cheaper than a petrol/diesel vehicle.
Cheaper to register: The Queensland Government provides a discount on stamp duty for the purchase of an EV, plus ongoing discounts on registration.2
Better for the environment: Less pollution: By choosing to drive an EV you are helping to reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emissions. An EV has zero exhaust emissions, but still creates a degree of greenhouse gas emissions when it is charged from the electricity grid.
Renewable energy: If you have a solar PV system and charge your EV during the day, you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions even further. Another way is to purchase GreenPower from your electricity retailer. Then, even if you recharge your EV from the electricity grid, your electricity is coming from renewable energy source
Better for our health: Reduced harmful exhaust emissions is good news for our health. Better air quality will lead to less health problems and costs caused by air pollution3. EVs are also quieter than petrol/diesel cars, which means less noise pollution.
The Main Advantages of Electric Bikes
Electric bikes and regular bicycles are very similar. In many ways they hardly differ – both have a frame, two wheels, handlebars, seat, pedals and other parts. This means that when thinking about buying an electric bike, you’re probably already a cyclist. We’re going to compare an ebike to a regular bike rather than a motorbike, car, or public transport. In this article, we will look at the main pros and cons of electric bikes compared to regular bikes, as well as some common features between them.
