Batteries glossary

Primary and secondary batteries

Also called primary battery, secondary battery, rechargeable battery

A primary battery is used once and discarded, like an alkaline battery. A secondary battery is rechargeable, like lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries.

Used in these articles

Related terms

Electrochemistry and cell basics

Related coverage

Subscribers read the desk company and technology reports on the names it covers, including new reports before they are published on datadeep.tech.