Do rechargeable lithium-ion batteries exist in standard sizes like AA, AAA, C or D?
They do, but they don’t operate at 1.2-1.5 Volts. According to Isidor Buchmann, author of Batteries in a Portable World: A Handbook on Rechargeable Batteries for Non-Engineers, this is due to safety concerns — people might try to charge them in chargers made for other AA batteries, where they might explode. Also, because Li-ion batteries operate 3.7V per cell, rather than the 1.2 to 1.5V of most cell batteries, designing a 1.5V lithium-ion cell would be expensive.
However, you can find good rechargeable AA Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries, which perform very well. For more information, see my article on The Best Rechargeable Batteries.
There are also some lithium-ion rechargeable batteries made for high-performance flashlights and cameras, in these sizes: 18650 and CR123.
A single 18650 battery can replace two CR123A batteries, although at a lower voltage (but much higher amperage). However, the 18650 is a wider cell and will not fit into a flashlight that is designed strictly for the narrower CR123As. Most modern tactical LED lights are designed to use a single 18650 or two CR123As, but it’s best to check before buying. See our article on The Best 18650 Batteries for more information.
There are also numerous other types of lithium-ion batteries made for specific laptops and other electronics gadgets. There is currently no standard size for these lithium-ion cells.
Good books on batteries:
- Batteries in a Portable World: A Handbook on Rechargeable Batteries for Non-Engineers
- Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy
- The Battery: How Portable Power Sparked a Technological Revolution
Related Posts
The Best Rechargeable D Size Batteries & Chargers
The Best Golf Cart Chargers Of 2012
A Review Of NiZn Batteries 
The Best Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers Of 2014
The Highest Capacity Rechargeable AA Batteries
The Best Battery Chargers (For D and C Size Batteries)
The Best 18650 Batteries
The Best Ni-MH Battery Chargers
Kayne says
They are called 14500
The same size as AA but lithium and 3.7v
web master says
Yes, the same size, but different voltage – so people should not use them as replacement AAs.
dave says
This blog is incorrect. Rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries do exist in AAA and AA sizes. They are VERY common, are named based on their dimensions which are (AAA) 10440, and (AA) 14500 cells.
If the author of that book suggested otherwise, the book is a joke as this isn’t something one would have to be an engineer to know, NOBODY who knows modern day batteries does not realize they do come in AA and AAA sizes.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting they are interchangeable in devices meant for alkaline or NiMH/NiCd AA or AAA cells due to the difference in voltage, but they most certainly do exist and the author of the book seems to have created a work of fiction that is probably best avoided.
web master says
As I say in the article, there are no lithium-ion batteries that can replace AA or AAAs.
Anonymous says
Some people use a 14500 and a spacer for the (rough) equivalent of x2 AAs.
Some people reqire their electronics to take x2 14500s in parallel instead of x2 AAs in series.
Steve says
I think it would be great if there could be a consumer usable AA and AAA li ion battery version. I find no matter how well we manage our rechargeable batteries they always end up with battery memory.
Scarlet Liu says
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Thanks.
PatZ says
As a matter of fact there are 1.5V Lithium-ion battery, at the positive end there is an additional ring for 3.7V/4.2V charging and the center is 1.5V output.
It is more expensive for sure but the matter is it does exist.
Jim says
I bought 1.5V Lithium AA batteries in May 2014: ‘Energizer Ultimate Lithium’. When brand new, they read 2V. There is no ‘additional ring’ for a different voltage. Is this new information, or did they just come onto the market? And why would they not be rechargeable? Why would they burn or explode when charged? My cordless tools all run on Li-Ion, and those batteries recharge very quickly. Seems to me if you don’t overcharge them, they shouldn’t explode.