As time goes by, can the higher upfront cost of Lithium iron phosphate battery save you money? APlusBAT’s Lithium iron phosphate battery has many advantages over lead-acid batteries, such as zero maintenance, longer service life and faster charging time. Due to its long service life, you can reduce the number of battery replacements. Learn in detail how we explain the total cost of ownership of LiFePO4 batteries compared to lead-acid batteries, and how this can save you more money in the long run.

As time goes by, will the cost of Lithium iron phosphate battery be higher than that of lead-acid battery?

Compared with traditional lead-acid batteries, the total cost of Lithium iron phosphate battery is much lower, thus enhancing competitiveness and profitability. The Lithium iron phosphate battery is a sealed device, which does not need electrolyte supplement or regular acid adjustment, nor does it need equalizing charging or cooling time. You just need to charge and plug in to start using. Considering that lithium batteries have a lifespan of up to 10 times and require zero maintenance, the savings you save on maintenance costs and battery replacement will make up for the significant upfront costs.

How long can LiFePO4 batteries last?

The APlusBAT Lithium iron phosphate battery can be cycled for at least 3500 times at 80% discharge depth without performance degradation. The average lifespan of lead-acid batteries is only 500 to 1000 cycles. The life cycle refers to the charging, discharging, and recharging of lead-acid batteries. Lithium iron phosphate battery can extend its service life without active maintenance. In addition, batteries have no memory effect, and due to their low self discharge rate, you can store them for longer periods of time. Lead–acid battery require special maintenance. If they don’t do this, their lifespan will be shortened even more. In the real world, this means that the service life of LiFePO4 batteries is about 5 times longer than that of lead-acid batteries.

LFP battery cost breakdown

The following are the elements that constitute the total cost of ownership of LFP batteries:

• The retail cost of the battery is the maximum cost for initial installation.
• The labor cost required to install the battery. This should be carried out by professional personnel, and in some cases, it is necessary to arrange professional personnel and dispatch them to the customer’s site. The labor cost for installing any type of battery should be roughly the same, but for lead-acid batteries, this process must be repeated many times, while the entire life cycle of Lithium iron phosphate battery only needs to be installed once.
• The cost of maintaining the battery. Lead acid batteries require maintenance, including checking and topping up the water level, cleaning the acid residue on the battery and terminals, and cleaning or replacing nuts, bolts, and cables that have corroded over time. LFP batteries require no maintenance throughout their entire lifespan, making them a more cost-effective solution. five
• The cost of replacing the battery. Before replacing the lithium battery, it is necessary to replace the lead-acid battery multiple times.
• Charging cost. The nominal electricity charge for battery charging. It includes the need to overcharge the lead-acid battery to avoid stratification (the accumulation of Lead(II) sulfate on the battery panel). In our calculations, we assume that the DOD (discharge depth) of all batteries is 80% before charging is required.

How can lithium batteries save money for your business?

If your company operates with the help of electric carts, the advantages brought by lithium batteries can save you money in various ways.

• The Lithium iron phosphate battery has a cycle life of at least 3500 times, which is 5 times as long as the lead-acid battery, which is equivalent to replacing the lead-acid battery for 5 times.
• The Lithium iron phosphate battery is 100KG lighter than the lead-acid battery of the same capacity, which is equivalent to the weight of two adults. This weight reduction will make your car run faster and farther, which in turn will save more power.
• The charging speed of Lithium iron phosphate battery is 5 times faster than that of lead-acid battery. In addition, their fast charging and discharging rates make them very suitable for various applications. Fast charging can reduce downtime and improve efficiency. You can charge at any time, improving battery usage.
• The Lithium iron phosphate battery does not need any maintenance, which greatly reduces the equipment, materials, and labor costs required for maintenance.

Lithium iron phosphate battery is still not the cheapest choice on the market, and their upfront costs are often higher than other battery systems. However, the service life of the Lithium iron phosphate battery is much longer than that of the lead-acid battery, and its performance is also better. On the whole, it can save you or your enterprise more than 50% of the funds.