The Cost of Primary Battery Power

With the advances in digital information technology and development of portable consumer devices that interface with the Internet market for batteries has exploded. In the year 2000, the total battery energy consumed globally by laptops and mobile phones alone was estimated to be 2.5 GW (i.e., 2.5 x10⁹W). This is equivalent to the power needed to simultaneously lift of 28 Boeing 747 jumbo jets. Among the common power sources, batteries are the most expensive, about 5000 times more expensive than electricity at home. For example, an AAA battery costs about $1.25 per battery and generates about 1.4 Wh, during its lifetime. The cost of electricity per kWh is $890. Compared with the electricity supplied by power companies to homes through electric transmission lines at (about 10 cent per kWh ), electricity from AAA batteries is 8000 times more expensive.

	AAA Cell 1.5V	AA Cell 1.5V	C Cell 1.5V	D Cell 1.5V	9 Volt	BA-5590 for military
Capacity	1.1 Ah Alkaline	2.5 Ah Alkaline	7.1 Ah Alkaline	14.3 Ah Alkaline	0.6 Ah Alkaline	7 Ah Lithium sulfur dioxide
Energy	1.4 Wh per cell	3 Wh per cell	9 Wh per cell	18 Wh per cell	4.2 Wh per pack	168 Wh per pack
Battery Cost (estimated US$)	$1.25	$1.00	$1.60	$1.60	$3.10	$60.00
Cost per kWh	$890	$330	$180	$90	$730	$357

Cost of energy obtained by primary batteries. Compared to other energy sources, the energy cost from primary batteries is very high. The cost increases with smaller battery sizes.

In reality, the actual cost is even higher if the environmental cost of energy usage is properly considered. There are concerns about recycling of batteries containing such toxic metals as cadmium, lead and mercury.


Environmental/societal Costs of Energy
The Cost of Primary Battery Power
Life Cycle Assessment
The Cost of Rechargeable Battery Power



Go to Activity #1 Making a Battery from a Lemon

Back to Description