Most of the choices we make speak to who we are. It comes with the territory, so to speak. If you choose to spend a lot of money on expensive clothing from all the high-end brands, you are telegraphing how you feel about fashion and its relation to your budget. Similarly, people can tell something about you based on your battery choices.

Batteries seem like such an innocuous consumer product. They are so commonplace that we rarely think about them. And yet, there are differences. There are different form factors, different technologies, and different price points. All of the differences influence your purchase choices, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Cheap Alkaline Batteries

The cheapest of all batteries at the cash register are disposable alkaline batteries. Based on per-unit price, you can get some alkaline brands for less than one dollar apiece. Of course, you pay more for brand-name batteries than you do for generic products.

So what does this say about you? If you always buy alkaline disposables, it suggests that you are thrifty and budget conscious. You tend to not spend more than you have to on any product. It also might suggest that you use batteries infrequently. Otherwise, you might not be so ready to run to the store every couple of weeks to buy more.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Consumers who choose lithium-ion batteries do so for very specific reasons. At the top of the list is the whole concept of recharging. Given that a single lithium-ion sell can be recharged a thousand times or more, people who use a lot of batteries end up saving money by choosing lithium-ion over alkaline.

There are those who choose lithium-ion batteries from Pale Blue Earth because they do not want to contribute to the billions of alkalines tossed in landfills every year. Even though they save money in the long run, their motivation is more about the environment and sustainability than anything else.

NiCad and NiMH Batteries

Both NiCad and NiMH batteries are rechargeable. The two technologies predate lithium-ion technology by many years. They have their pros and cons. Generally speaking, however, they don’t tend to be as good as their lithium-ion counterparts. The two technologies are slowly fading away as more people are exposed to lithium-ion.

If you still purchase NiCad and NiMH batteries, you are probably the kind of person who doesn’t see the benefit in constantly buying and throwing away single-use alkaline batteries. Your battery choices are probably based primarily on finances. You know you save money with rechargeable cells, so that’s what you choose to buy.

Money and Sustainability

When you get right down to it, money and sustainability seem to be the two biggest factors people consider when buying batteries. Where money is concerned, cash register prices can be deceptive. Single-use alkaline batteries actually cost more in the long run simply because you throw them away upon full discharge.

At the same time, it can be very tempting to reach for alkaline batteries when you see that lithium-ion products can cost five times as much. It is easy to convince yourself to pay the $5.00 now just to get the batteries you need. You will spend $25 later on a pack of rechargeables.

People whose battery choices are more influenced by sustainability tend to take a long, hard look at their options. They know single-use batteries don’t fit the sustainability mindset. Their choice is among the three main types of rechargeable batteries now available to consumers.

Who knew battery choices can reveal so much about you? They do, if you’re willing to look under the surface.