Technology improves so does the batteries that we use to power some of that technology. For years we have used nickel cadmium (Ni-Cad) battery to power some of our electronic gadgets. Whenever this kind of batteries go dead, we will throw them away and buy new one.
Nowadays, we have lithium ion (Li-Ion) rechargeable battery. Compared to NiCad batteries, Li-Ion batteries last longer. Li-Ion batteries have higher energy density and are also lighter than Ni-Cad batteries, making it a very economical way to lower the operating costs of battery-powered gadgets.
The most cost-effective lithium ion battery currently is the 18650 battery – a cylindrical battery. The 18650 battery is used for a large amount of portable electronic gadgets such as laptops, power tools and other portable gadgets.
The numbers of 18650 correspond to the dimension of the battery; diameter of 18mm x height of 650mm. The 18650 battery is usually 3.6 or 3.7 volts and the capacity is usually 2,400 mAh.
As mentioned, the 18650 battery has higher energy density and weighs a little over an ounce and a half which means users will have more power for their gadget without adding significant weight. For the first time, this battery doesn’t need long-drawn-out preparation to get it ready. All you need to get started is just a single charge.
However, lithium ion batteries may explode if mishandled, for instance if you don’t charge or discharge them properly. So you have to follow the recommended charging practices when charging the 18650 battery in order for you to prevent bad things happen and to protect yourself and your surroundings from explosion.
Overall, Li-Ion batteries are becoming more and more popular and used widely for laptop and other portable power devices. In my opinion the 18650 battery will dominate the battery market, especially if the manufacturers can deal with the left-behind safety issues.