LiPo batteries, short for Lithium Polymer batteries, are a type of rechargeable battery that has taken the electric RC world by storm, especially for planes, helicopters, and multi-rotor/drones.
LiPo batteries have large capacities, meaning they hold lots of energy in a small package (high energy density).
LiPo’s are very good at maintaining a consistent voltage/power output as they discharge.
LiPo batteries have high discharge rates to power the most demanding electric RC aircraft and vehicles. LiPo’s also allowed for fairly high charge rates so recharging in an hour or less is possible.
LIpo batteries are packaged in a flexible plastic pouch,which called a “pouch cell”. The flat pouch cell can be stacked with no wasted air spaces. And also less weight than a metal can package. These two characteristics of pouch cell make lipo battery to be the preferred choice in RC aircraft applications.
In short, Li-Po cells provide high energy storage density to weight ratios. They also give us a consistent voltage output, are capable of safe fast discharges, have quick recharge times, and can be configured in an endless variety of voltages, capacities, shapes, and sizes.
These benefits are important in any RC model, for airplanes, helicopters, and quad/multi-rotor they are the reason electric flight has become so popular.