Lithium-Ion Battery

Basics

• A Type of Electrically Rechargable Battery
• Has one of the highest power desities
• Can have a Battery Fire issue, also lithium availability may become an issue in the future (although recycling is possible)
• Most common form (pre-battery pack unit) OTS is the 18650 Battery (similar in form factor to a "AA" type battery, different specs though)

Depth of Discharge

Discharging only a little bit and recharging prolongs life - 10 years if 10% discharge, 6 years if 25% discharge

Cost

• $56 for 100 of 20Wh batteries - 3.7V, 5.8Ahr. 2000Whr for $56? [1]

Review

This is a good review. Standard is 2200 Ah for 16850 cells, 3.7 v - 8 Wh of power. [2]

• Ultrafire at 1 Ah and 4A is worth the $1.2. Cheaper than all others, for half capacity.
• Further - if it's 1 Ah and 72 cents - it appears to be 370W for $67, or under $200 per kW? Definitely would be worth it.

Protection

• Protected vs unprotected - [3]

Not High Drain

• 2600 advertised - [4]

Internal Links

• Sodium-Ion Battery (A Similar Chemistry, With Similar Use Cases, but can be made with Sewater / (Non-Lithium) Brine Wastewater sourced Sodium, rather than pit mine / brine mine sourced lithium

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on Lithium-Ion Batteries
• The YouTube Channel "Stache D Training"
  • "I’m Pat! Captain at a large suburban fire department in Michigan and a mechanical engineer with a background in R&D, holding multiple patents on electric vehicle technology.

This channel is built for firefighters, first responders, and safety professionals facing the growing risks from EVs, micromobility devices, and battery energy storage systems.

With nearly 20 years in the fire service and a career developing and testing EV battery structures, I bring a rare perspective that bridges fireground reality with the engineering behind the tech.

Here, you’ll get training-focused content, real-world incident breakdowns, and practical advice to help you make better decisions when it counts.

I work with FSRI, IAFC, SAE, and other industry leaders to stay ahead of the curve and bring that knowledge straight to you."

• • TLDR: Great Safety Content, much of it on Battery Fires + Safety:
  • Examples:
    • "Not all BESS are safe, Two Fires, Two Outcomes
    • "EV Charging Stations: An Accident Waiting to Happen
      • Borderline Rage Bait title, BUT he discusses how code currently doesn't require, and thus most EV Charging Stations don't have an easily accessible safely far enough away shutdown point, akin to the emergency shutdown at Gas Stations
        • Easy to add now that we know, same with putting E-Stops on things
• Do NOT buy Lithium Ion Fire Extinguishers
  • The comments have some people from industry with insight
  • TLDW:
    • Small fires are over before they begin, and thus become a "normal" fire
    • Larger Fires are DAMN hard to stop, some commenters mentioned PILES of CO2 Extinguishers to draw heat out, most others suggested drop+run+contain it
      • All in all safer chemistries and/or Battery Charging Bunkers / Battery Charging Cabinets are needed