Lithium batteries are composed of lithium metal anodes and can produce double the voltage of an ordinary zinc-carbon battery or alkaline cells. Lithium batteries are used mostly in portable consumer electronic devices.

Lithium batteries are derived from a family of different chemistries and are also comprised of many types of cathodes and electrolytes. These batteries are used in several critical devices such as cardiac pacemakers and other electronic medical devices as well. These devices use specialized lithium-iodide batteries which are designed to last 15 or more years. In other applications such as toys, these batteries can even outlive the toy itself. Lithium batteries are preferred in place of regular alkaline batteries in numerous devices suck as clocks and cameras, where the battery used can make a huge difference. Even though lithium batteries are more expensive, they are proven to be more durable and thereby minimize battery replacement. Lithium batteries are also available in a smaller size and can be found in portable devices such as PDAs, watches, calculators, and backup batteries in computers, remote car locks and many other devices. Produced in many shapes and sizes, a typical lithium battery is a 123a cell measuring 200mm in diameter and 1.6-4 mm thick. These batteries can support heavy power demands in devices such as digital cameras as well.

Although these batteries are much more advanced and practical, because of their chemical composition, there is a safety issue involved where shipping and carriage of these batteries are often subject to restrictions.