Into the crystal ball-dimly [battery technology developments]

Ni-Cd will be the battery of choice for several years to come. A large production base exists and cells are available in a wide variety of cylindrical and prismatic configurations from a large number of manufacturers. This helps ensure a reliable supply at low cost. Ni-MH and Li-ion are emerging as replacement options for Ni-Cd. They both have higher energy density. The battery of choice to replace Ni-Cd is not yet clear. The Ni-MH has good high rate performance and less need for sophisticated charge and voltage control. The Li-ion has considerably higher energy density but requires charge and voltage control for best performance. Environmental pressures on spent batteries continue to be an active area of legislation, government regulation and industry concern. The industry has responded by developing mechanisms and procedures for recycling spent batteries. An industry sponsored collection and recycling group is now operational. Electronic control of the battery operation will become commonplace to improve performance and reduce abuse to the system. Upper and lower voltage limits along with current and temperature control will become de rigour for battery pack operation. The charge and voltage control will be combined onto a single ASIC chip. Individual cell monitoring in a battery pack will increase