Expensive?

Lithium batteries are expensive when compared to lead-acid. But in demanding applications, the high initial cost will be more than compensated by longer service life, superior reliability and excellent efficiency.

Lithium technology

Lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) is the safest of the mainstream li-ion battery types. The nominal voltage of a LFP cell is 3,2V (lead-acid: 2V/cell). A 12,8V LFP battery therefore consists of 4 cells connected in series. LFP is therefore the chemistry of choice for very demanding applications.

Rugged

A lead-acid battery will fail prematurely due to sulfation:

• If it operates in deficit mode during long periods of time (i.e. if the battery is rarely, or never at all, fully charged).
• If it is left partially charged or worse, fully discharged.

A LFP battery does not need to be fully charged. Service life even slightly improves in case of partial charge instead of a full charge. This is a major advantage of LFP compared to lead-acid.

Other advantages are the wide operating temperature range, excellent cycling performance, low internal resistance and high efficiency.

 
Battery sizes

 8Ah lithium battery

Efficient

In several applications (especially off-grid solar, wind and communication), energy efficiency can be of crucial importance. The round-trip energy efficiency (discharge from 100% to 0% and back to 100% charged) of the average lead acid battery is 80%. The round-trip energy efficiency of a LFP battery is 92%. The charge process of lead-acid batteries becomes particularly inefficient when the 80% state of charge has been reached, resulting in efficiencies of 50% or even less in solar systems where several days of reserve energy is required (battery operating in 70% to 100% charged state).

In contrast, a LFP battery will still achieve 90% efficiency under shallow discharge conditions.

Size and weight

Saves up to 70% in space.

Saves up to 70% in weight.

Smart monitoring

VE.Direct port for alarm, voltage and temperature monitoring on a PC or Smartphone.

Datasheet Peak Power Pack

Lithium smartphone monitoring