When it comes to choosing batteries for powering anything mechanical, there is a list of conditions that have to be fulfilled. For instance, how much voltage is needed, capacity requirements and even cycle standbys?

You may be wondering, what battery should I use? Well, there are many variations of batteries out there, and there are some which are rather popular among the vast amount of batteries for their high performances, which would be the Lead-acid Batteries and Lithium Batteries. Suppose you don’t know much about them, no worries. We’ll let you know the differences between them before you go on purchasing one.

General Difference between Lead Acid and Lithium

Before we dive into anything detailed, there’s something you should know in general. Lead-acid batteries are tried-and-true technology that requires less money to afford. However, it requires regular maintenance. On the other hand, Lithium is a premium battery that has a much longer lifespan with higher efficiency, though it may be pricey at times.

I mean, you get what you paid for, right?

Lead-acid Batteries Vs Lithium Batteries

Life Cycle

When you charge up your batteries with your panel after discharging it, that is considered a charge cycle. Battery lifespan is measured through how many cycles it is able to handle before reaching expiration and not in years.

Imagine it as car mileage. People often judge the price of a car not on when it was built but rather on how much it was used instead. Other instances include the battery going through 100 cycles in 4 years and 300 cycles in one year. The one who has gone through only 100 cycles would be considered the best condition.

Cycle life is often measured on how much capacity of the battery you use before reaching its max. Hence deeper discharges increase the stress on the battery and shorten its life cycle.

Cost

As mentioned above, there is actually a significant difference between both prices. Usually, it’s the cost that drives people into hesitation in choosing between the two batteries. So which is the right product for me?

Well, lead batteries are cost-effective and can be obtained in large quantities without worrying about any security of its supply. It is also great for applicants who are stationery where energy requirements are low. However, In terms of power and range, you may be surprised to find Lithium batteries being more dependable. It is often favoured by many.

Energy and Range

To put these two batteries side by side, the lithium battery is able to achieve an energy density amounting to 125-600+ Wh/L while lead batteries having only 50-90 Wh/L. To put it in other words, if you were ever to drive the same vehicle to travel the same distance, you would need ten times the power of a Lead battery just to rival a lithium battery. Having said this, when you are trying to achieve the same amount of energy for both your lithium and lead batteries, there is no doubt that lithium batteries would save some space in case of any important accessories needed. On the other hand, a higher density of energy means it would be able to run longer. With that in mind, you wouldn’t need to charge a lithium battery that is often compared to a dead battery.

Charging

When it comes to charging, most people are concerned about how long it takes for these batteries to be fully charged. Well, a lead battery would take you way longer than a lithium battery to charge, amounting to an estimate of 10 hours, while lithium uses around 3 hours to be fully charged. This is because lithium batteries are able to accept a faster rate of current, promoting faster charging. This is fairly important as it affects the amount of time needed to maintain the vehicle you are using.

Battery Weight Comparison

Do you know why most people prefer using lithium instead? This is because lithium is 55 per cent lighter than lead-acid batteries. This is rather important, especially when it is applied on mobile applications, such as scooters and wheelchairs. The weight of a battery greatly impacts the overall performance of the vehicle itself.

To sum things up, a lithium battery overpowers its benefits compared to lead batteries. However, if you’re looking for something much affordable, we don’t stop you from considering lead batteries.

Battery Installation

If you’ve ever attempted to instal lead batteries, you’d know how crucial it is to not install them in an inverted position. This is to prevent any potential issues of venting to uprise. Lead acids do not leak, which allows the residual (gasses) to be released through its vents.

In a Lithium battery, however, each cell is sealed tight. This means there are no restrictions as to how you can install your battery. It can be installed in any direction you prefer, ensuring that you get the best results.

Lithium and Lead Acid: Which Is Better?

After all that, which should you choose? Each of these batteries is suited for different scenarios. Although it may seem as if lithium batteries have dominated it all, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use lead-acid batteries.

If you are looking for a short term battery, lead-acid is definitely for you as it is much cheaper. On the other hand, lithium should be bought only when you are financially capable and are looking for a long term investment. We guarantee it won’t disappoint you.

Where To Buy Lithium Batteries

So, where can you find lithium batteries? Well, if you don’t have a place in mind, you can always consider looking it up here at Fresco. If you’re looking for lithium batteries for your wheelchair, we guarantee that you’d be able to find them here. Each of them would cost around RM400 to RM550. Even if you don’t find the battery you want, you might just get something else better.

Will you get a lithium battery or a lead acid battery? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below.