Why Lithium?

Learn all about the benefits of lithium batteries, including why you should consider lithium batteries for caravans and yachts, our manufacturing process, and promise to you. If you have any questions please contact us.

Lithium in Comparison to Lead

price if li-ion battery diagram

This is correct at first view; lead batteries have been manufactured commercially for more than 100 years, whilst lithium iron phosphate only twelve years. However, there is a big proviso, setting aside the several benefits in use; manufacturing techniques have already greatly reduced the costs over that period.

We are now well past a price point where the cost per KWh of stored energy over the lifetimes of each now means that lead batteries will always work out more expensive and less dependable and are a total disaster for the environment – the manufacturing carbon footprint of the lithium is less than 50% lower than lead acid batteries.

If badly designed, lithium batteries, like all batteries, can be dangerous. However, we design all of our batteries to be safe and secure. All of our Arctic batteries have a Battery Management System (BMS) installed, which guards against danger. Our lithium batteries include an external short circuit, which lead batteries lack.

Additionally, in the unlikely event the cells themselves were shorted, externally pierced or crushed, the cells would not achieve a high enough temperature to combust, and any gases given off during this process would be inert. A high enough temperature could not be achieved if the cells were electrically damaged, for example by overvoltage charging, or charging at a low temperature (below freezing).

Our Battery Management System prevents low temperature charging or high voltage charging. On balance, lead batteries would normally be more dangerous since gases given off in fault conditions are explosive and there is no internal short circuit protection or BMS equivalent to protect them.

Our lithium batteries switch off in the case of overcharging or undercharge conditions, or attempted charge at low temperature. However, our ‘Artic’ range features an auto-switch which powers heat pads that allow safe operation in freezing conditions.

Lithium batteries can be seriously damaged if they are charged below 0°C. All our batteries are protected by a BMS. Our Artic batteries have a temperature control that activates heating elements when charging commences to overcome this problem.

Lithium batteries charge eight times faster than other batteries, and so draw down a high charge, this can damage the batteries alternator. However, we have equipped our batteries with external circuitry to prevent overload demand.

This is incorrect. A lithium battery delivers its power at a constant voltage for far longer and supplies power to near zero capacity before its voltage significantly tails off. This means they deliver nearly 100% of their stored energy as usable energy.

 

By contrast a lead batteries voltage tails of as it discharges, passing the half way mark certain items such as water pumps start to become notably sluggish or lights dimmer. This is clearly impractical and a recharge becomes a pressing issue for its user.

 

Moreover, lead batteries begin to suffer increasing lifetime degradation around 50% of discharge and it is in the user’s interest to manage a lead battery so that the duration elapsed after this level is kept to a minimum. Lastly, when a lead battery is subjected to large current demand, such as an inverter, it suffers from a natural phenomenon called the Peukert’s Effect and the stated capacity drops by a very significant factor.

 

For these reasons it appears lithium has gained a reputation for a single battery having the power of two lead ones. Peukert’s Law describes how lead acid battery capacity is affected by the rate at which the battery is discharged. As the discharge rate increases, the battery’s usable capacity decreases. However, this law does not hold true for lithium-ion batteries due to the technology’s high level of efficiency.

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Advantages of a Lithium Battery

Provides More Power

Up to 50% more than a managed lead battery, preventing a diminished life. Regardless of the load, lithium provides virtually all the available power at a constant voltage with no slow fade out, making lithium batteries ideal for caravans, yachts and more.

 

Around 40-50% Lighter

Due to the reduced axle weight creating increased load carrying capacity.

Ultra-Long Life

Several thousand cycles are possible. Lead batteries fail prematurely when they operate in deficit for long periods. If left partially charged or discharged, failure is even quicker. Lithium batteries do not need to be fully charged. Service life even improves in case of partial charge. This is a major advantage and why we are able to offer a guarantee of up to 10 years.

Faster Charge Time

Due to the reduced axle weight creating increased load carrying capacity.

Highly Efficient 96% Power Cycle

Efficiency is extremely important, a discharge from 100% to 0% and back to 100% of an average lead-acid battery is less than 80%. The efficiency of a lithium battery is 96%. Lead batteries become especially inefficient from above the 80% charge.

Over several days, such losses can compound to lower than 50% in losses or even worse in systems where batteries are operating between 70% to 100% charged state. In contrast, lithium’s achieve over 90% efficiency, even under shallow charge/discharge cycles. This higher efficiency makes a lithium batteries ideal for caravans, yachts and many more

Environmentally Friendly

There are no poisonous heavy metals or environmentally damaging chemicals in Freedom Lithium iron phosphate batteries, all of which are recyclable. In contrast, lead batteries are toxic to all life and lead pollution is damaging to the environment.

In addition, lithium batteries significantly outlast lead batteries, which results in a reduction of repeat manufacturing and recycling. Therefore, when you choose Lithium you lower your carbon footprint.

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