NiCd Batteries?

[geekybiker]

So I'm trying to decide on a battery chemistry, and I'm having trouble seeing if there is a big downside to NiCd.
Lighter than SLA by a good margin
Cheaper than LiFePo4
Supposedly high cycle and discharge rates.
Pretty hard to damage

Is there a "gotcha" that I'm missing?

Do they not provide their full AH ratings like SLA or something?

Heck, they look cheap enough that I could store a pack at work, and a pack on the bike, and still be below what a LiFePo4 setup will cost.

 

[liveforphysics]

Charging is advanced (voltage is not directly representative of SOC).

Very real balance issue potential on deep discharge (like lithium).

Cells can't be charged in parallel (unless perfectly matched, and will somehow stay perfectly matched).

Heavy.

Enviromentally not so great.

But, they can be made to work if you're willing to go through the extra work and special chargers for each series group of cells. NiCd is likely a better choice than NiMH.