Why should you go for a lithium-ion battery instead of a lead-acid one? This is one of the most common questions. Actually, it all boils down to the advantages of lithium-ion batteries. In this article, we are going to compare the two in an attempt to help you make the best choice. Read on to know more.
Charging the Battery
The charging efficiency of a lead-acid battery is quite low, which is only 70%. In other words, these battery packs lose a lot of energy to recharge. The excess energy is burnt to mix the acid. This process increases the temperature of the battery and causes the water inside to evaporate. As a result, you need to top off the unit with distilled water on a regular basis.
On the other hand, it is possible to recharge a lithium-ion battery to full capacity. Therefore, these units can help you save a lot of money on your electricity bills. The reason is that these products are 96% efficient. Plus, they can accept rapid and partial charging without any problem.
Weight of Battery
Unlike a lead-acid battery, a lithium-ion battery weighs three times less. This is the reason they are easy to transport. You can easily transport these batteries from one place to another without a helping hand.
Maintenance
Lead-acid batteries require a lot of maintenance. Regular maintenance is not easy either. You have to top off the water, maintain the filling system and eliminate oxide from the terminals and elements.
So, these are the three hidden costs as far as the maintenance is concerned. First of all, acid batteries emit a lot of gas during the process of recharging. Therefore, they should not be placed in your living room. You have to dedicate a separate space for these units.
The gas emitted by these units should be expelled from the charging area. So, you need to install a special ventilation system for this purpose.
In small companies, the cost of water demineralization can be a routine expense. However, this is not the case for small businesses and can be a major expense. On the other hand, you don't have to pay any infrastructure cost for lithium-ion batteries.
Service Life
Unlike lead-acid batteries, the lifespan of Lithium-ion batteries is at least 3 times longer. Therefore, they can save you a lot of money over the long haul as you don't need to replace these units that often.
Safety and Emissions
As far as safety is concerned, lead-acid batteries contain no safety systems. They are not sealed and put out hydrogen during the process of recharging. This is the reason they cannot be used in the food industry.
By contrast, lithium batteries emit no harmful gases. Therefore, they can be a great choice for different types of applications. They also have special control systems in place for additional protection.
Long story short, this was a brief introduction to the difference between Lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries. Hopefully, this article will help you make the best choice to meet your personal and business needs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10375370