Advantages
Although
rechargeable batteries are more expensive than conventional batteries, there
are many positive factors that make them a worthwhile investment. For starters, the running time after one
charge for a rechargeable battery is about five times longer than that of a
disposable one. This makes the batteries
especially handy for travellers as they do not have to constantly replace dead
batteries. Also, rechargeable batteries
are more powerful than disposable ones.
For instance, rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries can work in cold
temperatures, making it especially beneficial to Canadians. Using rechargeable batteries also eliminates
the need of replenishing a supply of batteries.
Not only does this save money, but it reduces energy consumption for battery
production and the amount waste in landfills.
According to ChildLike, there are a staggering 2.9 billion batteries
thrown away annually in America (Figure 3). This
number can be reduced significantly if people switched to rechargeable batteries. Additionally, the output of energy of
rechargeable batteries remains the same until it has run out of reactants. Conventional batteries, on the other hand,
gradually become weaker until it stops working.
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| Figure 3 |
Disadvantages
While there may be many advantages
to using rechargeable batteries, they have their share of drawbacks. First of all, rechargeable batteries have a
limited life-span. Although outside
factors can shorten battery life, the primary cause is the slowing of chemical
reactions in the cell. Over time, the battery’s
redox reactions weaken and gradually stop taking in the current chargers force
in. In other words, the reactions cannot
be reversed and the battery is rendered useless. In addition to this, using rechargeable
batteries require more work and attention than it does to use disposable ones. While disposable batteries can be grabbed and
used straightaway, rechargeable batteries have to be mounted to the charger for
at least an hour before they are ready for use.
During this time, the user’s activities would be delayed and they have
to keep an eye on the charger to ensure it does not over-charge. This is, because over-charging damages
batteries and shortens their life-span. Furthermore,
rechargeable batteries have a high self-discharge rate, meaning they can
release energy even if they are not connected to a load. This means the owners has to charge the
battery after long periods of storage. Therefore,
it is best not to charge batteries unless they are needed immediately.