Solar, marine and energy storage applications are often difficult to sell due to their competitive markets. Along with most deep-cycle applications, these products frequently come under scrutiny for their battery life and performance.
Customers expect your battery solution to have a long life span and enough capacity to power your product effectively. Unfortunately, lead acid batteries come up short in these areas.
Lead acid batteries underperform compared to lithium-ion batteries in nearly every category relevant to a battery’s quality. Worst of all, your customers are more likely to experience premature battery failure when you equip your product with a low-quality lead acid battery.
Your application must perform better than other products at your price point in order to bring in sales. The last thing you want is for your company to gain a reputation for selling low-value products. So, it’s important to think carefully about your choice in battery.
Lead Acid Is The Low-Value Battery Choice
How do customers determine what is and isn’t a low-value product? To begin with, they trust other customers. When your product comes with a low-quality battery, there’s a good chance customers will write negative reviews.
If there are trade publications available for your industry, expert reviewers may also give your product a low rating. This is especially damaging to your brand when the reviewer is a major player who has a dedicated following of readers.
On the other hand, using lithium-ion technology boosts your product’s reputation. Customers know how to identify a high-value application through research and comparing specifications. Many customers claim an engineer’s choice in battery is the first thing they look at when making a purchasing decision.
If your product sales are not where you need them to be, it may be time to ditch your old battery. Consider the following three ways in which lead acid batteries diminish a product’s value:
1. Longer Charging Time
Lead acid batteries charge 30 to 50 percent slower than lithium-ion batteries. Think about how frustrating this is for customers waiting that extra time to use their electric caddy for a game of golf or take their electric boat out for a fishing trip.
With a lithium battery, your customers are able to charge their application quickly and get back to enjoying their activity. And your product value climbs significantly with improved ease-of-use.
2. Loss Of Capacity In Temperature Extremes
A lead acid battery’s capacity decreases by 40% at zero degrees Fahrenheit. However, a lithium battery only shows a 10% loss of capacity at the same temperature.
If your customers want to ride their eBikes to work despite the cold weather or power their RVs for a winter trip, a loss of battery capacity prevents them from getting the highest level of performance from their product.
3. Shorter Life Span
Lithium-ion batteries are capable of reaching 5,000 full charge and discharge cycles. Meanwhile, lead acid batteries often net out at 400 cycles. So, a lead acid battery would only last about two to three years, depending on frequency of use.
If you’re selling a high-quality product, you likely designed it to last more than three years. Your battery should have the same longevity. Don’t forget, replacing batteries is an expensive inconvenience you want your customers avoid.
By making a switch to lithium and improving your product value, the end result is increased sales and more revenue for your business. While not every customer is aware of the benefits of lithium-ion technology, there are enough people who seek a high-quality battery to affect your bottom line.