# Lithium batteries vs. alkaline batteries **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 7, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448 "2011-09-07T00:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/1 "2011-09-07T00:27:19Z")
Which cells would be better: Lithium, or alkaline? The application would be for a back-up battery pack that would only be used if the Ni-Cads were depleted and a/c wasn’t available. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/2 "2011-09-07T00:35:50Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Which cells would be better: Lithium, or alkaline? > > The application would be for a back-up battery pack that would only be used if the Ni-Cads were depleted and a/c wasn’t available. Lithiums (non-rechargable) have a lower self-discharge rate than alkalines–on the order of 10 years instead of 3. That tends to make them good for back-up or emergency applications. They are also very lightweight, in case that’s important. On the other hand, they are more expensive per unit energy. If you expect to go into back-up mode frequently, and a 3-year replacement cycle isn’t a problem, alkalines may be a better choice. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/3 "2011-09-07T00:36:19Z")
I’m assuming, since this is a backup, that the primary characteristic you’re looking for is shelf life. [del]From some quick googling, it seems like non-rechargable lithium batteries have a similar shelf life as alkaline: about five years.[/del] If you’re expecting the main batteries to be replaced relatively quickly, it probably doesn’t matter which type; if not, Lithium lasts a little longer. Also, if you’re looking at cold-temperature usage, Lithium batteries work much better at sub-freezing temps than alkaline. Edit: I’m willing to believe that **Dr. Strangelove** has better info than me. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/4 "2011-09-07T00:46:46Z")
I should add that the numbers can vary wildly–I’ve seen anywhere from 2 to 5 years for alkalines, and 8 to 16 years for lithium. [Here’s](http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Ultimate-L91BP-4-Lithium-Battery/dp/B00003IEME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315356014&sr=8-1) a random example of one advertised with a 16-year shelf life. The cold-temperature performance is definitely a good point. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/5 "2011-09-07T00:52:02Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Which cells would be better: Lithium, or alkaline? > > The application would be for a back-up battery pack that would only be used if the Ni-Cads were depleted and a/c wasn’t available. Oh, another one: lithiums have a much higher capacity in high-current applications. An alkaline AA driving a 1 A load can lose something like 2/3 of its capacity, while the lithium doesn’t care. The difference is even greater with cold temperatures. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/6 "2011-09-07T03:08:45Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Oh, another one: lithiums have a much higher capacity in high-current applications. An alkaline AA driving a 1 A load can lose something like 2/3 of its capacity, while the lithium doesn’t care. The difference is even greater with cold temperatures. Yes, but in low current drain situations / normal temperature the difference goes away ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/7 "2011-09-07T03:29:31Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Yes, but in low current drain situations / normal temperature the difference goes away Mostly. But the difference is more like 10% than 3x. The OP hasn’t specified the application, but if the primary power source is Ni-Cd, there’s a good chance that this is a high current application. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/8 "2011-09-07T03:44:03Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > The OP hasn’t specified the application, but if the primary power source is Ni-Cd, there’s a good chance that this is a high current application. Two-way radio. It runs on a 9.6v Ni-Cd battery pack, or 8 alkaline batteries. Puts out 5w. I’ll use it for listening, not transmitting. A couple of times a year I’ll probably have it on for 6 or 8 hours. I still have the instructions, but they’re not handy at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-batteries-vs-alkaline-batteries/595448/9 "2011-09-07T03:55:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Two-way radio. It runs on a 9.6v Ni-Cd battery pack, or 8 alkaline batteries. Puts out 5w. I’ll use it for listening, not transmitting. A couple of times a year I’ll probably have it on for 6 or 8 hours. I still have the instructions, but they’re not handy at the moment. I see. I would go for the lithiums for shelf-life reasons. I assume this radio is mostly used under emergency conditions (severe storms, etc.)? If so, the last thing you want is to find a drawer full of leaky alkalines when trying to get your radio working. You might even forget the Ni-Cd entirely if you really only use this device for \<20 hrs a year.