Se vznikem více typů baterií a pokračujícím vývojem pokročilých chytrých zařízení, elektrická vozidla, a solární energii, there is an ongoing debate about which battery type provides the best performance and power. One of the most common and recurring comparisons is the lead-acid vs lithium-ion battery debate. This article will explore the differences between lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

The lead-acid battery was the first rechargeable battery used commercially. It was invented in 1859 and is still widely used for a variety of purposes. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries are inexpensive and are often considered a cheaper way to provide large amounts of power.

A lead-acid battery is a rechargeable battery that usually uses porous lead as the negatively charged anode and an oxide (lead oxide) as the positive electrode.

Both the cathode and the anode are immersed in an electrolyte consisting of an acidic solution of dilute sulfuric acid. Immersing the electrodes in the electrolyte causes a chemical reaction to occur. A chemical reaction occurs inside the battery, releasing an electric current that flows through the electrodes.

Lead-acid batteries are widely used in electric vehicles, motorboats, electric scooters, emergency lighting, and other fields.

1. They are cheap. That is why it is widely used in today’s market.
2. They have the lowest self-discharge rate among all rechargeable batteries.
3. Lead-acid batteries require little maintenance and can perform well under harsh conditions.
4. High specific power, which can produce high discharge current.

1. Lead-acid batteries are usually larger compared to lithium-ion batteries of similar battery capacity.
2. They have limited cycle life and are more susceptible to shortened battery life due to deep discharge.
3. Batteries must be kept charged to prevent battery sulfation.
4. Charging speed is slow, taking 14 na 16 hours to fully charge.
5. Not environmentally friendly, not recycling will have a bad impact on the environment.

Since its emergence, lithium-ion batteries have changed the game in the field of power generation and have become increasingly popular due to their portable design, charging capacity, and high energy density. Due to these properties, lithium-ion batteries have gained mainstream adoption in many electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. Navíc, it is also used in electric vehicles (EVs) and rides in the automotive industry and solar equipment.

Lithium-ion battery, also known as lithium-ion battery, is a rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions to store energy. It consists of a positively charged electrode (cathode) and a negatively charged electrode (anode).

During charging, lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, which creates an electric current. The reverse process occurs during discharge. The cathode is usually a lithium-based material and controls the battery’s capacity and voltage.

Typically, graphite is used as the anode material. Between the cathode and anode is an electrolyte composed of lithium salts in an organic solvent. The final component of a lithium-ion battery is the separator, which is a physical barrier between the cathode and anode that enables lithium ions to move through the battery while blocking electrons from entering.

Lithium ions are produced at the cathode and transported by the electrolyte, moving through the separator to the anode, where they are stored during the battery charging process. The working principle of lithium-ion batteries is simple.

When lithium-ion batteries are used to power appliances such as recreational vehicles (RVs), lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. This movement triggers electrons, causing them to move from the cathode to the anode. When the device is charged, the reverse of this chemical process occurs.

Lithium-ion batteries are useful in many areas, with major applications in surveillance systems, portable power packs, electric vehicles and RVs, solar energy storage systems, emergency backup power (UPS), and marine performance.

1. They are lighter than other batteries because the electrodes are made of lightweight materials.
2. They have a long lifespan and can hold a charge for a long time.
3. They have a higher energy density than other battery types such as lead-acid batteries.
4. They have a higher depth of discharge and can handle multiple charge and discharge cycles.

1. They have a significantly higher cost compared to lead-acid batteries.
2. They have thermal runaway, which means they can catch fire.
3. High temperatures accelerate the lifespan of these batteries, causing them to degrade faster.
4. They cannot be brought on board airplanes because they can generate heat that can cause a fire, so regulators have banned lithium-ion batteries.

When reviewing energy supply and power storage options, a common question that is often asked is which battery is best to choose. The most common choices are lead-acid and lithium-ion battery technologies, which are rapidly replacing traditional lead-acid batteries. Let’s compare the characteristics of lead batteries and lithium batteries.

Lead-acid batteries release hydrogen and oxygen when overcharged. These gases are highly flammable and can cause battery explosions or human poisoning if not properly ventilated. Však, most lead-acid batteries on the market are valve-regulated and therefore safe to use.

Naopak, lithium batteries do not release any harmful substances during use. Lithium-ion batteries also pose safety hazards due to thermal runaway. To avoid the potential dangers of batteries, many lithium battery manufacturers have added battery management systems (BMS) to their products. The BMS will reduce the risk of failure and ensure the safety of the battery cells.

Every industry that uses these batteries has rules that guide their manufacturing to ensure that they are safe to use, and most importantly, both batteries should be handled with care.

Cost-effectiveness is another factor that many people focus on when buying batteries. This is the main difference between lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

Lead-acid batteries are a cheaper option for battery installation. For batteries of the same size and capacity, the price of lithium-ion batteries is usually twice the price of comparable lead-acid batteries.

Však, in terms of the life of these batteries, lithium-ion batteries last much longer than lead-acid batteries. The life value of lithium-ion batteries will be twice that of lead-acid batteries.

Proto, lead-acid batteries are only a cheaper option for short-term stationary applications with low energy requirements. Naopak, if you want to use batteries as a power source for a long time, lithium batteries are a more cost-effective option

No one wants to carry around bulky batteries. That’s why many users prefer to use lightweight batteries that take up as little available space as possible. Lead-acid batteries contain lead, which is a high-density material, while lithium-ion batteries contain lithium, which is 55% lighter than lead. Lead-acid batteries contain a lot of lead and are 5 times heavier than lithium-ion batteries. Besides that, lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density and do not require as much physical space as lead-acid batteries, so lithium-ion batteries are lighter in weight and size compared to lead-acid batteries.

Battery capacity is a measure of the amount of energy that can be stored and eventually discharged from a unit volume of the battery. The capacity of a battery directly indicates how much active material is contained inside the battery.

Although battery capacity may vary depending on the model and manufacturer, one thing is the same: the energy density and battery capacity of lithium-ion batteries are significantly higher compared to lead-acid batteries. Using the same space, lithium-ion batteries can store more energy than lead-acid batteries.

Since lithium-ion technology has a higher energy storage capacity, you can power more devices and discharge more energy for a considerable period of time.

The depth of discharge (DOD) of a battery refers to the maximum amount of energy that a fully charged battery can use before it needs to be recharged. It measures how much of the battery energy you can safely consume without causing any damage to the battery.

The depth of discharge of lithium batteries and lead-acid batteries is like this: lead-acid batteries have a DOD of 50%, and going beyond this depth can negatively affect the battery’s service life, while lithium-ion batteries have a higher DOD of 80% or more.

The higher depth of discharge of lithium-ion batteries allows them to have a higher effective use capacity than lead-acid batteries. In terms of charging time, lithium-ion batteries can be fully charged in just a few minutes to three hours.

A similarly sized lead-acid battery may take 10 hours or more to fully charge, a factor that is critical for time-sensitive applications that have fewer rest intervals and more use time.

The cycle life of a battery refers to the number of charge cycles a battery can go through without degrading performance. When a battery is discharged (from the device it powers) and recharged, this is called a charge cycle.

The service life of a battery is usually measured by the number of charge cycles a battery can go through before it expires. It is important to understand that the depth of discharge directly affects the cycle life of a battery; deeper discharges put more stress on the battery, shortening its life cycle and reducing its efficiency.

In summary, batteries with long cycle lives have a longer lifespan than batteries with short cycle lives. Typically, lead-acid batteries have a cycle life of about 300-500 cykly, which can last for about one to two years.

Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, have a much longer cycle life. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are known for having a longer lifespan, with a cycle life of over 4000 cykly, which can last for 10 roky, and some high-end varieties can last up to 15 years or more.

Since batteries don’t last forever, this leaves us with another important question: what are the environmental impacts of lead-acid vs. lithium-ion?

Earlier in this article, we saw that lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries contain hazardous and highly toxic materials. Due to their long battery life, lithium-ion batteries are replaced less frequently than lead-acid batteries.

Additionally, they are easily disposable, making them more environmentally friendly. Lead-acid batteries contain two highly toxic materials, lead plates and acid, which can cause significant environmental degradation.

Ensuring that they are properly disposed of takes a lot of money and time, which makes lithium-ion batteries a better choice for battery installations, resulting in high demand from electronics and electric vehicle manufacturers.

1- Solar Cells

In recent years, people have shown increasing concern for the earth, and more and more people are choosing renewable energy sources in their homes and offices. As a result, solar panels are now more popular than ever. It is best to have a high-capacity battery to store the electricity generated by solar panels for later use.

Battery packs with multiple battery cells can perform this function well. Compared to lead-acid batteries of the same size, lithium-ion batteries have faster charging rates and higher depth of discharge, providing higher power efficiency for a longer period.

2- Electric Vehicles

Obvykle, the type of battery required for electric vehicles is expected to be lightweight and superior in performance. Lithium-ion batteries are preferred due to their fast charging time and ability to provide constant power throughout the discharge cycle.

No other battery type in the electric vehicle industry can match them in this regard. This makes lithium-ion batteries the number one battery type in the electric vehicle market.

3- Electric Rides

Traveling on electric rides such as electric scooters and electric skateboards is not complicated when you have lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have four cells, each producing 3.2V. You can connect four additional battery packs in parallel, giving you more battery power.

The high energy density of lithium-ion batteries means that you can drive longer with your chosen electric vehicle without worrying about it. Another benefit of lithium-ion batteries for electric rides is that they can hold a charge for a long time. Lead-acid batteries lack these characteristics, making them unsuitable for use in electric rides.