Lithium-ion (li-ion) battery packs

We are a specialist manufacturer of Lithium-ion battery packs. Whether your requirement is for a battery pack that is custom designed and assembled to precisely match your specific needs or an ‘off the shelf’ battery that can be customised or used as is, we can help.

Steatite has been designing and building battery packs for over 30 years and our expertise positions us at the forefront of the battery industry as a leading battery pack manufacturer. All of our batteries are designed and assembled in the UK at our dedicated battery assembly facility. Every battery that leaves our facility is assembled using the very latest production techniques and the highest quality cells from leading cell manufacturers.

Contact us to discuss your requirements with one of our Lithium-ion battery specialists

Advantages of Lithium-ion battery packs

Low rate of self-discharge

When not in use, all batteries lose an amount of charge over time. However, unlike many other rechargeable battery chemistries, the rate of discharge for li-ion cells is significantly lower. This means that less maintenance is required for battery packs in a stored state.

Increased energy density

Lithium-ion batteries can hold substantially more energy that other battery types. As applications become increasingly power hungry, demand for batteries with greater energy density is growing. The ability to hold more power is one of the key advantages of li-ion technology.

Compact and light

When considering equal power capacity, the greater energy density of li-ion means that assembled battery packs are lighter and smaller than their counterparts.

No memory effect

Memory effect – a phenomenon in which a battery that is recharged after partial discharge holds less energy – is not observed with lithium-ion batteries. This effect is a particular problem for nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries and it can take a number of full charge and discharge cycles to return the battery to something approaching the original charge capacity.

Disadvantages of Lithium-ion battery packs

Cost

Battery packs constructed using Li-ion cells are more expensive to manufacture. Batteries utilising this chemistry require complex electronics to manage the cells and ensure optimum safety. It is this that increases the manufacturing costs of lithium-ion battery packs.

Discharge damage

Lithium-ion batteries are easily damaged by deep discharge. Typically, a battery that is allowed to completely discharge will be unable to regain any charge and will therefore be rendered useless. Electronics within the pack will indicate zero charge long before the battery is actually fully discharged, thereby resulting in electronic devices shutting down to protect the battery. However, if left in this state a li-ion battery pack will continue to self-discharge and damage will occur.

Safety issues

There have been a number of high profile examples of li-ion batteries catching fire or even exploding. This can occur when overcharged, overheated or short circuited, and is the key reason why all li-ion batteries have control electronics built in. For this reason, lithium-ion battery packs are subject to strict transportation restrictions. As a leading battery manufacturer, Steatite is authorised to transport such batteries to most regions of the world.

For more information on lithium-ion battery safety, please take a look at our whitepaper ‘Safe design of custom lithium batteries’.