How do lithium-ion batteries work? | STIHL technology

Discover how STIHL lithium-ion batteries work.
Batteries are having an increasing impact on everyday life at home and at work: smaller batteries keep smartphones running, while large batteries are used to power electric vehicles. The proportion of batteries is also steadily increasing when working in nature. Lithium-ion batteries, in particular, are considered to be particularly powerful due to their design and the materials used. But what actually happens inside this energy storage unit?
Lithium-ion batteries are made up of individual cells, each of which consists of four basic elements: The anode serves as a negative terminal, while the cathode represents the positive terminal. The separator is located between the anode and cathode. It ensures electrical insulation. All three parts are surrounded by an electrolyte. This fluid allows charged particles to move between the poles.
If you look at a charged battery, the lithium ions are located at the negative terminal, i.e., the anode. Electrons, in turn, are bound to these lithium ions.
When the battery is used, the electrons detach from the lithium ions. Both move separately to the positive terminal, the cathode: The lithium ions take the path through the separator. The electrons travel across the terminals of the battery through the external electric circuit, i.e., through the electric device.
The movement of the electrons represents the electrical current that drives a hedge trimmer, for example.
Once all lithium ions and electrons have arrived at the cathode, the battery is discharged. Classic batteries cannot be recharged and must be replaced after being discharged. In the case of rechargeable batteries, on the other hand, the ions and electrons can migrate in both directions; the battery is therefore rechargeable.
To charge the battery, connect it to a charger. The charging voltage enables the electrons to migrate back to the anode via the outer electric circuit. The lithium ions take the path through the separator. Once there, the lithium ions pick up the electrons again and store themselves in the anode until the next battery use.
STIHL only uses modern lithium-ion batteries. These feature a high energy density and therefore long device runtime. In addition, lithium-ion batteries are particularly powerful and ideal for demanding applications.
STIHL batteries can be stored for several months without significant discharge. This means that the batteries are also ideal for occasional use or storage over the winter. The intelligent battery electronics, the so-called battery management system, ensure that the batteries operate safely.
STIHL has developed various cordless models for users. They differ primarily in their energy content, weight and performance. This means that the device and battery are perfectly matched to the specific application.