When it comes to energy storage, lithium-ion batteries are far superior to other battery types on the market currently, which makes them the battery of choice for energy storage and back-up applications.

They have a number of advantages over other battery types:

  •       High energy density

With a higher cell energy density, lithium-ion cells can be made smaller and more efficient than other cell chemistries. This allows for a more compact, lightweight battery, making them ideal for back-up installations with space limitations.

  •       Improved discharge and charge efficiency

These batteries perform significantly better than other battery technologies as they are discharged. Other battery technologies tend to experience increasing voltage drop over a cycle, leading to a steady decline in performance as the battery is drained.

With lithium-ion, no significant voltage drop is experienced until the battery has already discharged 80-90% of its capacity. This means that the performance of a lithium-ion battery will remain consistent until it has reached the end of the cycle and needs to be recharged. Lithium-ion batteries will typically also last longer than other battery types before they need to be recharged.

Lithium-ion batteries charge at nearly 100% efficiency, whereas technology such as lead-acid tends to only have an 85% charge efficiency. Because of this, there is much less energy wastage, allowing for faster recharge times.

  •       Lower maintenance requirements

Lithium-ion batteries do not require active maintenance such as water top-ups or battery conditioning like lead-acid batteries do. This makes them a lot easier to care for.

Although they do require some level of care and perform best at a range of charge between 50% and 80%, they are a lot more forgiving than other battery types. Many lithium-ion batteries come with a built-in Battery Management System (BMS), so they will be put to sleep if their charge drops too low, but this is a protective mechanism to ensure the battery’s longevity.

  •       Longer cycle life

Lithium-ion batteries typically get the most cycles out of any other battery type commonly on the market. With typical use, their lifespan would be around 500 cycles or 2-3 years. However, with the correct settings on the Battery Management System (BMS), proper cell alignment, and ambient temperature control, a lithium-ion battery could last decades.

  •       Higher cell voltage

Lithium-ion batteries can be made much smaller and more efficient due to the higher voltage of their individual cells. This allows for fewer cells required per unit, meaning that they can deliver the same amount of voltage as another battery type with fewer cells.

Despite their higher price point, these advantages make them cheaper in the long run, as they will cause fewer issues and have to be replaced less often.