Facts About Nimh Batteries
Nickel-metal hydride cells, known as NiMH batteries, are popular rechargeable batteries that can be used to power a wide variety of electrical devices. Switching from alkaline to NiMH batteries may help a consumer save money and soften their environmental impact.
History
Development of the NiMH battery began in 1967 at the Battelle Geneva Research Center in Switzerland. The research accomplished at the research center, sponsored over a period of two decades by Daimler-Benz, Volkswagen and others, led to the development of the Ti-Ni alloy structure, which was later improved by the Ovonic Battery Co. The first consumer-grade NiMH batteries cells appeared on the market in 1989, but these early NiMH batteries were only capable of powering small devices. Today's improved NiMH batteries are capable of powering much larger devices for extended periods.
Uses
NiMH batteries are used to power anything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles. General Motors, Honda and Ford all used NiMH batteries to power vehicles like the General Motors EV1, Honda EV Plus and Ford Ranger EV during their short flirtation with all-electric vehicles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Many of today's popular hybrid vehicles, including the Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, are powered, in part, by a NiMH battery. NiMH batteries are a popular choice for fast-drain digital devices like cameras and camcorders. NiMH batteries are also increasingly being used by gamers to power wireless controllers and other gaming accessories.
Charging
Being able to charge an NiMH battery is one of the battery's best features. Charging and reusing batteries, rather than replacing, can save a consumer quite a bit of money over time. Most NiMH battery chargers on the market are capable of fully charging batteries in just a couple of hours and some can charge up to 10 batteries at a time. Battery chargers for NiMH AA and AAA batteries are inexpensive and readily available, though chargers for NiMH D and C batteries are often expensive and hard to find.
Environmental Impact
NiMH batteries are considered to have less of an environmental impact than other types of batteries because they use a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for the negative electrode instead of the toxic element cadmium. Also, because NiMH batteries are charged and reused, they reduce landfill waste compared to other types of batteries.
Battery Comparison
Compared to other types of batteries, NiMH batteries are not expensive, especially when you consider the benefit of recharging, and they are often said to outperform alkaline batteries in high-drain devices because of their low internal resistance. NiMH batteries perform well even when compared to the higher energy density lithium ion batteries because they have a much longer shelf life.
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