Our Senior Director of Technical Center Americas, Ilyas Ayub, wrote an article for Battery Power Online in August 2018 that compares and contrasts Lithium vs. Lead-Acid (Pb) across a variety of portable, motive and stationary applications. This article was republished in October 2018 by Southern Oregon Business Journal.

Let’s be clear, the Lead-Acid (Pb) battery is still the mainstay of many battery applications such as starting your car, backing up a server-farm or telephone system, maintaining an alarm system – the list is long. But Lithium-ion (Li-ion), the mainstay for portable devices, such as cell phones and laptops, is continuing to expand into new markets and applications – even those where Pb is king.

Pb offers many advantages for non-portable devices where size or weight are not critical factors. While it has low energy density, it features great power density at a very low cost. However, the maintenance and replacement costs of Pb are starting to become a hindrance to Pb’s continued dominance. Recycling is one more aspect where lead batteries are likely to surpass lithium-ion batteries. Generally speaking, a lead acid battery can be recycled more easily than a lithium-ion battery due to the uneconomic process of recycling lithium-ion batteries. As a result, most lithium batteries are disposed of in landfills. However, it seems essential to know about the dangers of lithium ion battery disposal to avoid any fatal accident from happening.

Lithium is more than twice the cost of Pb, but it has improved power capability and low-maintenance such that is has become more popular for in-rack backup for server functions such as memory storage. The reduced space, better heat tolerance, and high-power discharge capability out-weigh the added costs in mission-critical computing uses. Additionally, due to the recent push for electric vehicles around the world, the price point for Li-ion is starting to decrease.

For low-cost, but critical applications, such as starting your car, Pb-Acid will certainly remain the battery of choice. Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) or Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) still command the majority of server and telecom backup systems along with flooded Lead-Acid, which can last up to 20 years when properly maintained. In addition, it can aid in providing the initial torque to the engine when the vehicle is started. However, you may have to ensure that the engine is in perfect condition else it may require extra power from the battery to pull the vehicle. This could lead to the battery draining rapidly and requiring frequent replacement. If you regularly maintain the transmission system, suspension, fan belt (check out an article on wd40 spray on fan belt), and other parts, you can ensure the longevity of the Pb-Acid battery and engine.

As more devices become portable via the continued advancement of low-power electronics, Li-ion will continue to enable new applications. For truly portable devices, Li-ion has ruled for laptops and cell phones for many years, but is now expanding into “larger” portable devices such as lawn and garden tools. Soon enough, Li-ion will be seen more within the outdoor power equipment segment that includes mowers, chain-saws, etc.

Why Is Li-ion Continuing To Expand Into New Market Applications?

Li-ion enables new opportunities due to its benefits such as low weight, high energy and high power density. Just 10 years ago, the power tool market was dominated by Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries due to low cost and high-power delivery. Li-ion was a very expensive alternative such that many thought it would never be viable for power tools-particularly ones at consumer price points. But Li-ion enabled a new type of power tool: one which took advantage of a more efficient and more powerful motor at a higher voltage. Previous NiCd designs did not exceed 18V due to the weight of the battery, but Li-ion enabled 36V (and now higher) designs. Higher motor voltages are more efficient and more powerful such that now portable power tools could do things previously reserved for only plug-in AC-powered tools. DeWalt 36V and Milwaukee 28V started the trend which has continued to even higher voltages and more capable devices.

Read full Battery Power Online article