The operating life of the batteries is a major factor in the reliability and cost of energy storage systems such as those used as backup power supplies or for the reduction of generated power fluctuations from renewable energy sources. Current Lithium-Ion batteries however have other disadvantages:
* Protection required – Lithium-ion cells and batteries are not as robust as some other rechargeable technologies, they require protection from being over charged and discharged.
* Aging effect – Lithium-ion battery will naturally degrade as they suffer from ageing. Normally Lithium-ion batteries will only be able to with stand 500 – 1000 charge and discharge cycles before their capacity falls to 50%.
* Transportation problems – This Lithium-ion battery disadvantage has come to the fore in recent years. A lot of restrictions are in place for the transportation of Lithium-ion batteries especially large quantities by air.
* Deep discharge – Lithium-ion battery has low self-discharge. The general integrity of this battery remains intact even if partially discharged. However, deep discharge or when the voltage of a Lithium-ion cell drops below a certain level, it becomes unusable.
* Safety concerns – Lithium-ion battery may explode when overheated or overcharged. This is because gasses formed by electrolyte decomposition increases the internal pressure of the cell. Overheating or internal short circuit can also ignite the electrolyte and cause fire.
* Sensitivity to high temperature – Lithium-ion battery is susceptible to the downside of too much heat caused by overheating of the device or overcharging. Heat causes the cells or packs of this battery to degrade faster than they normally would.