Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) – Euro Energy guide to battery chemistries number 1
Choosing the correct battery or battery pack for your application isn’t as simple as matching a required voltage against how long you want the battery to last for.
Each battery chemistry will offer different charge/discharge profiles and different operating environments may suit some battery chemistries better than others.
There may even be other logistical factors to consider. In this post, we’ll look at the benefits of Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH or Ni-MH).
Developments in Ni-MH have created many significant advantages over lithium cell alternatives.
Manufacturers such as Panasonic understand the importance of Ni-MH in it’s battery portfolio, and the ability of Ni-MH to be adapted to fill requirements which have so far eluded lithium chemistry batteries.
Recent additions include cells designed specifically for low temperature discharge, enabling good discharge performance to as low as -30°C.
The same cells offer standard Ni-MH performance at 60°C, so performance is assured in portable equipment operating globally.
Once the temperature has normalised to between 0°C and 60°C, recharge of nickel metal hydride battery packs can take as little as 1.2 hours.
Additionally cells have been developed for back up use at high temperature during both charge and discharge, with long life types offering up to 10 years of service.
Other nickel metal hydride cells are formulated to offer high rate discharge in similar environments at rates as high as 12C.
This is in addition to the mature, safe standard Ni-MH cells historically offered.
When is Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH / Ni-MH) the best alternative?
- If you need a light weight battery but recognise that featherweight isn’t your goal – sometimes a few grams adds a quality feel to a product.
- When you want to launch your product without committing to high set up costs.
- If you intend to ship products overseas by air or sea. Ni-MH is inherently safe with the inclusion of simple protection devices and doesn’t require a Despatch Department to be trained in Dangerous Goods shipping.
- If an overseas customer perceives a battery to be defective, getting Li-Ion back to you for investigation is often a logistical nightmare, or worse still, impossible. Ni-MH can travel freely across borders by aircraft.
- Easily configurable into packs of any shape or size with no minimum batch sizes and short lead times.
You can download this information as a pdf by clicking here or by visiting the Downloads section of our website.
How do I learn more?
For further information on Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH/Ni-MH) cells and battery packs or to learn more about our custom battery pack design and build service, contact our friendly & knowledgeable Customer Service team on 0116 2340567 or email info@euroenergy.co.uk
