It’s no secret that lithium-ion batteries are volatile – just look at hoverboards, Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s, and even some iPhone models which have exploded. Granted that these are not so common occurrences, but the fact that they happen at all is still troublesome. Lithium-ion batteries are not the only type of rechargeable battery out there; why don’t electronics companies try a different type of battery, like nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride? Is there a benefit in using a lithium-ion battery, or does it just come down to what’s easier to mass-produce?
Electronic – Why are lithium-ion batteries typically used if they’re so flammable
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Best Answer
Li-ion is primarily chosen for higher energy density (by weight and volume), but also for higher power, higher voltage, more flexible form factor, cheaper and easier manufacture, more efficient charging, lower self-discharge, more cycles and higher reliability than most other battery types.
They have. Cadmium is a heavy metal, so Nicads are out. NiMH batteries were used in phones and laptops before Li-ion took over. Charging them was always a problem due to heat generation and the difficulty of accurately detecting full charge.
You know what's really troublesome?
17 car fires every hour in the US, killing an average of four people every week.
Yet nobody is concerned enough to stop using gasoline, because its enormous energy density (effectively 20 times greater than Li-ion) is worth the risk.