TABLE OF CONTENTS Dwaine Coates and Allen Charkey
The nickel-zinc (zinc/nickel-oxide) battery is an alkaline rechargeable system. It is a combination of the nickel electrode, as used in other batteries such as nickel-cadmium, nickel-iron and nickel-metal hydride, and the zinc electrode, which is similar to that used in the silver-zinc battery system. Currently the nickel-zinc system is capable of delivering about 50 to 60 Watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and 80 to 120 Watt-hours per liter (Wh/L) depending on the specific design. Nickel-zinc batteries are capable of delivering more than 500 cycles at 100% depth-of-discharge (DOD) and up to several thousand cycles at low DOD. The advantages of the nickel-zinc battery include good specific energy, good cycle capability, abundant low-cost materials and an environmentally acceptable chemistry. The nickel-zinc battery is appropriate for a number of commercial applications including electric bicycles, electric scooters, electric lawn and garden equipment and deep cycle marine applications.
The generalized advantages and disadvantages of nickel-zinc batteries are shown in Table 31.1.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Fast recharge capability | Relatively low volumetric energy density |
| Sealed maintenance-free design | Higher cost than lead-acid |
| Good specific energy | |
| Good cycle life | |
| Low environmental impact | |
| Abundant raw materials | |
| Relatively low cost per Watt-hour |
The goal of the initial development of the nickel-zinc battery was to combine the long cycle life associated with nickel-cadmium batteries with the high specific energy of the zinc electrode. Historically, the nickel-zinc battery dates back at...
