Lithium and lead acid batteries are the most common type of battery. Metal lithium is used to produce lithium ion batteries whereas lead acid batteries are made from lead. Despite their difference in performance and cost, they can be effective energy sources. To understand which option works best for you, check out the critical difference between lithium and lead acid batteries.
Capacity
When you need to store a lot of energy, lead acid batteries are the most recommended. They are the heaviest among other types of batteries and can store more energy within the same space. Their capacity to produce more energy is what makes them more expensive. You can power multiple devices like laptops, cell phones, or cameras with a lead acid battery. On the other hand, lithium ion batteries also have good energy storage but are not as lasting as the lead acid models.
Charging
Charging a lead acid battery can take up to 10 hours, while a lithium battery will take about to charge lithium ion batteries. Some lithium batteries may even take minutes to get fully charged. When it comes to time-sensitive applications, you might consider using a lithium ion battery.
Lifespan
Like solar panels, batteries degrade over time and eventually fail to produce sufficient energy. If you use a battery and recharge it when it gets low, it will be counted as a single cycle. The number of cycles between batteries varies among studies, but it is a general conclusion that lithium batteries last longer. Also, it’s observed that they can survive several cycles more than lead acid batteries.
Energy and Range
The most significant difference between lead acid and lithium batteries is the energy they store. Lead acid batteries are preferred for their low price and greater ability to discharge at a higher voltage. Lead acid batteries can store more energy than lithium, but their voltage cannot compare with lithium’s higher voltage. It limits the range of lead acid batteries. Lithium batteries have the highest voltage of all batteries. Also, it allows them to be smaller and lighter than lead acid batteries, but they are more expensive. Lithium’s high voltage allows it to power electric vehicles with a greater range than lead acid but at a high cost.
Design
The design of both lithium and lead acid batteries is simple. They consist of six cells connected in a series and then put in a parallel circuit to increase the voltage. The cells are placed next to one another to increase the voltage. Lead acid batteries only have one cell per battery, further increasing the price of each battery. Lithium batteries have more than one cell to increase the voltage, which means that each battery can be smaller and more expensive.
Safety
Lithium batteries have higher power and have a greater potential risk of explosion than lead acid, but they are less prone to leak. Lithium’s higher power raises concerns of heat damage or even fires. If a lead acid battery overheats, it can cause a minor explosion. The explosion will usually be confined to the battery and not cause any injuries or damage to anything nearby. Lithium batteries have a higher risk of fire since they have greater power than lead acid, but this has been mitigated by the current safety standards for lithium batteries.
Efficiency
Lead acid batteries are more efficient than lithium because they throw off less heat. Lead acid batteries are more efficient because they are made from recycled lead, costing less. The design of lead acid batteries is also more efficient than lithium. Heat is lost from lithium batteries due to their higher voltage. Safety procedures and alarms on the battery can reduce the risk of explosion and fires but cannot eliminate them. Some experts argue that lithium’s efficiency is lower due to the high costs of producing a battery out of lithium.
Weight
Lithium batteries’ weight is dependent on the number of cells and the size of each cell. For lead acid batteries, weight depends on their capacity and production cost. Lead acid batteries are more efficient because they are made from recycled lead, which allows them to be less expensive than lithium.
Lithium batteries and lead acid batteries have different properties and applications. Both effectively power everything from laptops to electric vehicles when used in the appropriate applications. To decide which one to use depends on its power efficiency, safety, and longevity. Lithium batteries are better for high-power devices like electric vehicles, but a lead acid battery will last longer and be safer in lower-power devices like cell phones.