Green Living With Battery Technology - The NiMH Battery: Battery Technology: Eco20/20

Green Living With Battery Technology - The NiMH Battery

To live without batteries nowadays is nearly impossible; but since only few batteries are green - that is to say manufactured and usable in a way that doesn't affect the environment -, and those who are tend to be quite expensive, most people concerned with energy conservation and pollution are in a difficult situation. Nonetheless, there is a solution for green living with battery technology that is neither expensive nor inaccessible: the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) battery.

By purchasing NiMH batteries instead of conventional batteries anyone can help save the planet. They are affordable and usually available in most retail stores.

The NiMH Technology

As a modern battery technology that has been around for a couple of years, NiMH has numerous applications in both the consumer and industrial segment.

NiMH batteries have two major advantages over conventional NiCD batteries. Firstly, they come in many shapes and sizes. This design flexibility recommends them as an alternative to standard batteries in multiple fields and for all sorts of uses. Secondly, they are friendlier with the environment because they do not contain toxic metals that can infiltrate the soil.

When it comes to energy efficiency, NiMH batteries are superior to NiCD and other battery technologies. But this does not come at an extra price; the NiMH technology is affordable.

The Technology

NiMH batteries are electrochemical cells which use Nickel Hydride as an alloy for absorbing hydrogen instead of the more toxic and less efficient cadmium and nickel occurring in conventional batteries. Another advantage of the Nickel Hydride technology is that it increases the battery efficiency up to three times compared to a NiCD battery of a similar size.

Charging NiMH batteries is best done with smart chargers which have the ability to control the voltage values. If done with unsupported chargers, it might all lead to the death of the battery from overcharging or in some special cases even to explosions.

The process of charging batteries that use the NiMH technology can be done in three ways, depending on the size and use of the battery. All charging methods are efficient, but sometimes a certain method is preferred if the battery serves an industrial purpose.

* Manual charging. Allows users to pick their own voltage for charging the battery. A useful method for advanced users.

* Trickle charging. When using this method the trickle rate for charging needs to be carefully selected if the process is to be efficient.

* Temperature charging. Uses a constant voltage to replenish the depleted energy in the battery by converting the received energy into chemical energy. The power used for charging is, once the battery is fully charged, transformed into heat.

An Alternative to Conventional Batteries

NiMH batteries are less harmful to the environment than conventional batteries because they do not contain toxic substances. In addition, they are recyclable and easy to procure.

By purchasing NiMH batteries instead of NiCD batteries you can contribute to the preservation of the planet.