The difference between lithium and lead acid batteries
What is the difference between lithium battery and lead acid battery? The use of lithium-ion batteries in small devices such as laptops and smartphones has become commonplace. On the other hand, today the production of electric cars is very attractive for many companies, and as a result, the technology of lithium-ion batteries in large formats is expanding.
UPS batteries for emergency power devices are usually made of sealed (dry) lead acid batteries. These types of batteries are still preferred to lithium-ion batteries due to features such as final cost, energy storage, security and reliability, and considering the cost of these features.
In this article, Electro sanat Tehran has investigated and compared these two types of batteries for emergency power devices and hybrid car batteries and has examined the final cost and their advantages and disadvantages. In this article, the benefits of this type of battery are as follows:
Lead acid batteries
This battery is the oldest rechargeable battery system. Lead acid is hard, resistant and economical, but it holds little energy and has a limited number of cycles. Lead acid is used for wheelchairs, golf carts, personnel carriers, emergency power, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Lead is toxic and cannot be buried as waste.
Lithium-ion or Li-ion batteries
Li-ion batteries are used in many tasks that used to be done with nickel and lead batteries. Li-ion requires a protection circuit to maintain safety. This battery is more expensive than other types, but the high cycle count and low maintenance make the cost per cycle lower than many other chemistries.
Li-ion has different types that are named by their active ingredient, namely cobalt, manganese, phosphate and titanate.
The main difference between lithium and lead-acid batteries
Lead-acid and lithium batteries may look quite similar. It can be an old marketing tactic to convince consumers of new technology. However, when you choose them, the difference between lithium and lead acid batteries becomes more apparent.
Lead acid batteries are older than lithium batteries and have been used for many years. With the passage of time and the advancement of science and technology, a new type of battery called lithium-ion batteries emerged.
Lithium-ion batteries are smaller in size than lead-acid batteries, have less odor and require less maintenance, and are safer and more environmentally friendly than lead-acid batteries.
The main differences between these two lithium and lead acid batteries
Chemical compounds:
In the lead-acid battery, lead oxide is used as the anode and lead as the cathode, and sulfuric acid is also used as the electrolyte, but in the lithium-ion battery, graphite is used as the anode, and lithium oxide is used as the cathode. And salt is used as graphite.
· Environmental effects: Lead acid batteries contain 6% to 18% lead, which is a heavy and toxic metal, so they need more care for disposal, but because lithium is one of the harmless materials for nature. Lithium batteries are considered environmentally safe.
The price difference between Li-ion and Lead Acid batteries: to make lithium-ion batteries, they are much more expensive than lead acid batteries due to having a protective circuit to monitor the voltage and current.
Weight difference between lead and lithium: lead batteries are significantly heavier due to the presence of lead plates inside them.
The difference between lead-acid and lithium batteries: lead-acid batteries are labeled as “lead-acid batteries” and have the symbol “Pb”. A lithium battery has a special label with the symbol “Li”.
.Charging time
· The biggest difference is chemical stability: lead and lithium batteries have different chemical compositions. All types of lead acid batteries have stable chemical resistance. However, the dilute sulfuric acid inside the enclosure can cause skin irritation if there is a crack or crack in the battery. Some volatile hydrogen gas can escape during the charging of the target site.
Lithium-cobalt-oxide batteries, on the other hand, may catch fire when overcharged. Battery scientists have improved the technology by developing safer models of lithium ion phosphate. However, this amount of development is still low and not always acceptable to inexperienced customers.
Comparison of sealed acid batteries with lithium batteries
The following table provides you with useful and brief information on the comparison and difference between lead-acid and lithium batteries:
What are the biggest advantages of lead acid battery over lithium?
• Its technology is known: Cadmium battery has been known and used for about 25 to 30 years, and its production technology is very strong and advanced.
• No internal electronic components: Unlike lithium, the lead-acid battery has no internal electronic components. Therefore, the lead-acid battery can withstand high electric current, temperature and discharge; While the lithium battery is not. In a lithium battery, these internal electronics shut down the battery under extreme conditions, which can cause problems for the user.
• Stable and durable: lead acid battery is very durable and tough. In difficult conditions such as high temperature and current, this battery maintains its efficiency. Sealed acid batteries are widely used in larger tools such as electric forklift batteries and electric motors that require high current.
What are the biggest advantages of lithium batteries?
× Spontaneous discharge of the charge is very limited: the lithium battery is able to maintain its charge level for a long time. For example, if you stop working with an electronic device on Friday evening with a 50% charge, on Monday morning when you start working with the device again, it will be observed that it has retained almost 50% of the charge. This is a big advantage over lead-acid batteries where there is a spontaneous discharge of charge.
× Less weight: This type of battery is lighter and smaller than lead acid. This makes the user comfortable and can be used in small electronic devices.
× It has high recharging capability: Lithium battery can be recharged about twice as often as lead acid battery. A lithium battery can be recharged about 2000 times, while a cadmium battery can be recharged about 800 to 1000 times.
Advantages of lithium ion batteries compared to lead acid
× Longer service life of lithium-ion batteries and as a result reducing the frequency of changing UPS batteries and still more assurance that the batteries will not fail
× The lightness of these types of batteries in the scale of a certain amount of stored energy
× Charging and discharging times are almost 10 times higher
× Much longer discharge time when not in use
× Shorter charging time up to 4 times or more
Can lithium batteries replace lead-acid batteries in cars?
The main problem with the car battery is that the car has to start with the help of the battery and start working, which requires high power, currently some lead acid batteries are used as starter batteries. This is a problem for replacing lithium-ion batteries.
Although Li-ion batteries have advantages over lead-acid batteries in terms of performance (such as energy density, high current discharge, and longevity), one of the most important starting functions of the battery is to absorb unstable generator output voltage.
The capacitor acts as a voltage regulator. This lead acid battery is more suitable than the lithium ion battery because it is overcharged. In addition, the lithium-ion battery must be equipped with a battery management system, otherwise there will be safety risks, which will also increase the cost of using the battery.
In addition, the price of basic lead-acid batteries is much lower than that of lithium-ion batteries. Replacing lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries can cost 2-3 times as much or even more.
Auto companies have no incentive to replace a mature component with something more expensive but slightly more useful. In the near future, maybe lithium-ion batteries or other types of batteries or other technical solutions such as electrical devices will replace lead acid batteries.
Should you refrain from buying lead acid systems because there is a possibility of removing lead acid systems in the near future?
Lead acid batteries will be around for the foreseeable future. Lead acid batteries are cheaper and more stable and will continue to be used in the cordless tool industry. Customers should decide according to their needs and circumstances, as both technologies will continue for some time.
Which type of battery is more suitable for cold places?
Customers who live in cold or hot places often use lead-acid batteries. Unlike lithium, this type of battery is not affected by extreme temperatures. This does not mean that the lithium battery cannot function in such conditions, but the user should avoid exposing his electronic device to extreme temperatures.