Lithium batteries represent a significant improvement over traditional, lead acid alternatives. Technologically, they’re the next step – but what makes them so advantageous?
Finding the right battery for your needs requires careful research. Prime your efforts by understanding six core benefits lithium batteries provide:
Lithium is Green
Over time, lead acid batteries are prone to structural decay. If disposal is managed improperly, toxic chemicals enter and damage the environment. Lithium batteries don’t degrade, making proper disposal simpler and more environmentally friendly. Lithium’s improved efficiency also means fewer units are required to meet power needs, minimizing product waste and further reducing its ecological footprint.
Lithium is Safe
While any battery is subject to thermal runaway and overheating, lithium batteries are manufactured with more safeguards to reduce fires and other contingencies. Additionally, the development of newer lithium technologies incorporating phosphorous has improved the technology’s safety profile even more.
Lithium is Speedy
Lithium batteries charge faster and more efficiently than lead acid batteries. Most lithium units are able to charge to full in one session, whereas lead acid charging is optimal over multiple, staggered sessions that require attention and drain time. Lithium-ion requires fewer charging sessions in general, able to provide more power per full charge than lead acid.
Lithium Discharges Rapidly
Lithium’s high discharge rate allows it to provide more power in a given time than its lead acid counterpart and last significantly longer. A cost comparison of lithium and lead-acid batteries in automotive found for the same cost of implementation, lithium batteries went far longer (5 years) without needing replacement vs. lead-acid (2 years).
Lithium is Efficient
An average lead acid battery operates at 500 cycles when cycled to 80% before failing. Lithium can achieve 3,500 in identical usage conditions.
Lithium also displays much greater temperature tolerance. At 77 degrees, lead acid battery life span stays stable at 100% – crank that up to 127 degrees, and it’s reduced to a striking 3%, with life span decaying gradually as temperature rises. Within the same range, lithium’s battery life span is unaffected, giving it another level of versatility lead acid can’t match.
To learn more about how to calculate your energy needs and find the optimal battery for your application and usage, visit our Lithium Battery Selector Tool.
Lithium-ion technology’s inherent advantages give it the edge when it comes to powering most products and applications. Understand its advantages, assess your needs and make an informed buying decision to see the best results possible.
Want to learn more about the cost-saving benefits of lithium-ion batteries? Contact us.