Rarely is a lithium battery most effective when used off the shelf. Buyers looking for peak performance must consider a custom option. But how do you know when a custom lithium solution is right for you?
If you’re looking at lithium batteries and thinking about choosing a custom solution, here are some quick tips to help you figure out what you need. Pick up a custom battery when:
You Want Tailored Performance
If you’ve been following our blog, you likely know the advantages of custom battery casings for your battery. But that’s just scratching the customization surface. A skilled provider is able to customize your battery so that key performance metrics meet your application’s specific needs, including the battery’s voltage, capacity, charge and discharge rate and voltage protection.
By custom-tailoring your voltage, you waste less energy and improve your battery’s efficiency. Custom capacity helps you get the storage you need in the space you’re given, and a custom charge rate reduces your application’s downtime. A custom discharge rate helps your battery deliver more energy safely.
Additionally, voltage protection, managed by your battery monitoring system (BMS), automatically disengages the device if voltage reaches unsafe levels. This is especially important for batteries with over 48 volts. These batteries should be placed in a singular case with a BMS in order to preserve performance throughout the batteries’ life spans.
Today, solar power systems and hybrid electric vehicles are increasingly popular applications for utilizing custom lithium solutions, as both benefit immensely from high capacity in limited space.
You Have A Budget
Custom batteries are far more cost-effective than off-the-shelf solutions, as they usually fall within the same (or slightly lower) price range, depending on lead time. As with most purchases, rush delivery carries a premium while more measured timelines are economical. The key differentiator is performance. Because custom solutions do more to meet your specific needs and deliver better results, their relatively equitable price translates to significant value.
Your Application Demands It
Certain applications benefit greatly from custom battery solutions. Watercraft, aircraft and other vehicles, for instance, have weight and balance specifications to meet, and customizing your battery helps meet those requirements.
Here’s a real-world example: an electric mower used to cut greens on a golf course. A traditional, lead acid battery – the standard power solution for this application – stopped the mower from cutting an entire course in a day, given lead acid’s slow recharge time. By fitting a custom lithium battery, we halved recharge time and helped the mower achieve its full potential.
If you’re looking for the best performance from your application, a custom lithium battery is likely the right choice. The next step: finding an experienced provider that delivers the knowledge and service needed to take your power experience from good to great.