Lithium LiFePO4 or Acid batteries: Which is better and which to choose?
Choosing the right type of battery is an important decision for anyone who needs backup power, solar power plants, or electric vehicles. The two most common options - lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) and traditional lead-acid batteries - have many fundamental differences. Let's figure out which one is best suited to your needs.
Resource and durability
LiFePO4 batteries have a much longer service life. The typical service life is 10-15 years or 3000-5000 full charge-discharge cycles. Some manufacturers claim 8000 cycles.
Acid batteries last much less. The standard period is 3-5 years with 300-500 full cycles. Lead-acid batteries are sensitive to deep discharge: each full discharge cycle significantly shortens their life. If you regularly discharge them by more than 50%, the resource is halved.
Battery weight
Lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are 3-4 times lighter than lead-acid batteries of the same capacity. This difference is especially important in light electric vehicles. For example, an assembly for a 36 Volt 20 Ah electric bike from three 12V 20 Ah lead batteries weighs about 16 kg, and a LiFePO4 battery for a 36v bike from ENERVEL of the same capacity weighs less than 6 kg. This weight reduction will improve handling and increase the bike's range by 10% with the same capacity.
Cost and economics
At first glance, acid batteries are cheaper. The price of LiFePO4 is 2-3 times higher, which scares off many buyers. However, this is not the full picture.
The cost per cycle is a more honest indicator. If LiFePO4 costs 10000 UAH and provides 4000 cycles, then the price for one cycle is 2.5 UAH. An acid battery for 5000 UAH with 400 cycles will cost 12 UAH per cycle – almost 5 times more expensive.
If you calculate the cost per year of use, LiFePO4 also wins. The average service life of 12 years at a price of 10,000 consumes about 830 UAH per year. Acid batteries for 5000 UAH in the same conditions will last up to 4 years - this is 1250 UAH per year, plus maintenance and replacement costs.
Environmental friendliness
LiFePO4 is considered a more environmentally friendly option. Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries do not contain toxic substances (unlike lead and sulfuric acid), have a high recycling rate and do not require special maintenance using chemicals. However, lithium mining has its own environmental costs.
Acid batteries contain lead, a highly toxic element that is dangerous to health. They require careful handling and proper disposal. Sulfuric acid is corrosive and poses a danger to the environment.