Battery management considerations for multichemistry systems

The performance advantage of Li-ion batteries versus NiCd and NiMH technology has created a worldwide demand for Li-ion cells that is much greater than current manufacturing capacity. This is keeping prices high and supplies scarce-a situation expected to continue for at least several more years. Multichemistry chargers, while challenging to design, keep price-performance points flexible and guard against interruptions in supply. This paper surveys the design issues in implementing chargers that handle NiCd, NiMH, or Li-ion cells interchangeably.