Go for the Greener Option
Rechargeable Batteries Pros and cons
Type   What it's Good For   Pros and Cons
         
Alkaline   Devices that require a low amount of energy over a long time: remote controls, pagers, AM/FM radios, flashlights, CD and tape players.   Can be stored for a long period of time without significant loss of charge.Are unsuitable for high drain devices such as digital cameras.
        Rechargeable alkaline batteries normally have a lower capacity than standard alkalines. They tend to have a shorter life than other rechargeables, with energy levels decreasing drastically after the first recharge.
         
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)   Energy-intense products: digital cameras, music players and remote control toys.   Long lasting and higher capacity than other rechargeable batteries. They are less prone to voltage depletion or the loss of charge when not being used as NiCd batteries.
        They have a shorter lifespan than NiCd, although should be able to be recharged 500 times. Often more complex chargers are needed to recharge NiMH batteries.
         
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)   Power tools and emergency lighting   Have a long lifespan and can be recharged up to 1000 times.Good useability and can be charged in most standard chargers.
        If overcharged or stored incorrectly the batteries can be easily damaged .Contain the highly toxic cadmium meaning they should be recycled properly.
         
Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)   Ideal for devices requiring a reliable, high-energy power source not operating from a standard cell battery: cellular phones, PDAs, laptops, and MP3 players.  

Have a higher energy storage capacity than other rechargeables.

They can operate at a higher voltage, meaning less cells are needed to produce the same power as other batteries

Lithium Ion batteries have a lower self discharge rate than other batteries, therefore keep their charge for longer.
        Lithium Ion batteries are more expensive and can be damaged by under or overcharging.They are also not available in standard cell sizes such as AA, C or D.
         
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