Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) Batteries
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are used routinely in communication and medical equipment and offer reasonable energy and power capabilities. They have a longer cycle life than lead-acid batteries and can be recharged quickly. The battery has been used successfully in developmental EVs. The main problems with nickel-cadmium batteries are high raw-material costs, recyclability, the toxicity of cadmium, and temperature limitations on recharging. Their performance does not appear to be significantly better than that of lead-acid batteries, and the energy storage can be compromised by partial discharges-referred to as memory effects.