Batteries for embedded and portable applications Technologies

The development of portable or nomadic equipment, whether industrial or leisure, is accompanied by ever-increasing needs for autonomy, and therefore for high-performance electric batteries. In recent years, battery technologies have undergone numerous innovations, with the emergence of new product families. While nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride-based technologies have been mastered for many years, lithium-based batteries are more recent and evolve very regularly, leading to increased performance and the appearance of new chemical variants. It is therefore necessary to have a clear vision of the challenges and constraints of the various application areas, as well as of the performance of the technologies involved. Each battery family has its own specific characteristics in terms of power and energy. What's more, conditions of use differ from one technology to another. Choosing a battery technology for a given application therefore calls on a wealth of knowledge and information. In a first article [E 2 140] , basic notions about batteries (definition, constitution, principle, characterization, modeling, aging) were defined. This second article reviews the three main technologies that can be used in these applications, and details the operating principle, electrical characteristics, and rules of use and transport for each.

At the end of the article, readers will find a glossary and a table of symbols used.