Alkaline vs. Lithium Batteries – A battery Comparison

We live today in a world where batteries are ever so important in our lives. We are dependent on portable power. From Cellular phones to Laptops, we need batteries every time. Alkaline batteries are the most primitive of all batteries. Lithium Batteries are the newer. However, alkaline batteries are still in the market. Have you ever wondered why? That’s because they still have some advantages over Lithium Batteries. Before you continue, do not confuse lithium batteries with lithium-ion batteries. They are entirely different. Read on to find out the comparisons:

Both battery types operate at the same 1.5 volts. They are at par with this one.

Both are non rechargeable. Although we hear some people can recharge alkaline batteries. Read this article to learn how.

Lithium wins over Alkaline. Lithium batteries hold 6 times the charge of alkaline batteries. Lithium batteries can have more shots in cameras, it can play music longer, it can record videos longer – it can do all of the things the alkaline can do but longer. Charge density is the amount of charges (or electrons at higher potential) the battery contains. Alkaline batteries are around 1500mAh. That means alkaline batteries can give 1500 milliamperes in an hour. Lithium Batteries are around 9000mAh. It is even higher than the highest NimH batteries which are 4800mAh.

Lithium wins over alkaline. Lithium batteries can operate at extreme low temperatures and extreme high temperatures. It can work between -55 degrees Celsius and 125 degrees Celsius. Alkaline batteries work only between -18 degrees Celsius and 55 degrees Celsius. Hence, Lithium batteries are a choice for arctic explorers because their equipment will still function even with the freezing temperature of the environment.

Alkaline wins over lithium batteries with this one. Lithium batteries are more expensive than alkaline batteries. A pair of Energizer Lithium Batteries cost at $4-$5 while a pair of Energizer Max only costs around $2. Hence, for very simple purposes like clocks, smoke detectors and other low-current applications, alkaline batteries are used. Lithium batteries are used in High current applications like cameras, recorders, GPS and others.

Alkaline wins over Lithium batteries. Both are safe if they are used properly. They’ll never hit the market if they’re not safe. But assuming all is done to make the batteries exceed what they are designed for, if they are intentionally attempted to be blown up, then alkaline makes a weaker boom which is more like a pop. Lithium is an element and is very active because it is in its pure state which is not stable. This makes it energetic enough to hold six times the charge that alkaline batteries can hold.

Even if the alkaline battery is an age-old technology, it still has advantages. If you need power for a clock, watch, smoke detector, or any electronic device that has only a light load, use alkaline batteries. If you need the reliability of batteries at extreme temperature or just want more power in a cell, use lithium batteries.