Misunderstanding battery types can lead to poor battery maintenance, and that’s sure way to shorten the life cycle of any battery. Electric vehicles are engineered to run on either lead batteries or lithium, but the electrical components are not engineered for both. You can't just add a lithium battery to a lead acid scooter. The electronics of a lead scooter will not accept it and vice versa. It has to be engineered to use a lithium (or lead battery) from the day its built. Truly, the value of an electric vehicle is only as good as the battery that powers it. The total cost of ownership per usable kWh is 6 times cheaper for a Triad lithium battery with BMS compared to any sealed lead acid battery in competitor products for electric scooters for adults.
To answer the most common questions, here is the Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right Vehicle. Simply Put. Power = Value because you are choosing the right battery.
Why are lithium batteries important? Lithium-ion batteries power the lives of millions of people each day. From laptops and cell phones, hybrid and electric cars, to all electric scooters and personal electric vehicles, this technology has been growing in popularity over the last 2 decades due to it being light weight, with high energy density, and the ability to be recharged thousands of times more than lead batteries.
What is the advantage of lithium battery over a lead-based battery?
Modern lithium batteries have a higher energy density which are designed to last longer, making them the best choice for high-tech and smart devices, and electronics where constant changing the battery is inconvenient. Li batteries can withstand extremely low temperatures to work without failing in a freezing climate.
How important is lithium to the world?
Lithium has become a critical mineral for modern life. They are used to power electric vehicles, power tools, consumer electronic devices like laptops and smart phones, and to store wind and solar energy. Lithium batteries won’t change in these products.
Why do Electric cars use lithium batteries? They also have a high power-to-weight ratio, high energy efficiency, good high-temperature performance, long life, and low self-discharge.
Electric Car Batteries Continue to Improve
Advancements in batteries have come a long way. Lithium-ion batteries dominate continue to be the primary battery choice for many years to come. All-electric vehicles are completely powered by electricity. They are lightweight and offer high energy density, making them the preferred choice for electric vehicles and consumer electronics.
Peukert Effect Graph: Lithium vs. Lead
Are lead batteries a better battery for all electric vehicles?
No. Lead acid batteries are heavy and only have 50% depth of discharge. Whatever the Ah rating is, cut it in half. The extra weight of the battery is inherently putting a higher load during operations draining the lead battery faster. Extracting energy faster from a lead battery rapidly reduces its available capacity known as the Peukert Effect. Discharging the battery below 50% SoC also creates a faster rate of degradation leading to lower cycle life. Every time a lead acid discharges, it degrades. The lower you take your battery, the higher the rate of degradation. You never want capacity to drop below 50% with lead acid. If you use lead acid in your scooter, you should never discharge a lead battery below 80%. Lithium batteries are not subject to the Peukert Effect. Peukert's equation demonstrates that at higher currents, the lead battery has less energy capacity.
Are there better battery options than lithium for electric vehicles? No. Not any time soon. Lithium batteries are energy dense and are extensively used in today’s portable electronic products: laptops, tablets, smartphones, power tools etc. and these batteries won’t change in these products. But research and development is being put into Solid-State Batteries (SSB). The future technology, when it comes to EVs is expected to offer more range, lower cost, faster charging and better safety options, however these batteries aren’t projected to arrive for commercial application for at least 5 years. What is the problem with solid-state batteries?
There is one big problem with solid-state batteries today: Dendrites. These are protrusions that form on the anode surface during charging when lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode. Dendrites are tiny, rigid tree-like structures that grow, with needle-like protrusions and can penetrate the separator inside a battery which attach to the anode surface, creating a bumpy surface where dendrites can take root. Dendrites affect batteries the same way weeds can penetrate a solid concrete patio or paved road. Dendrites penetrate into the solid electrolyte, eventually crossing from one electrode to the other and shorting out the battery cell. Are there any other potential battery options to choose from?
Not yet, but Sodium-ion batteries may be on the horizon in 5-10 years. These batteries are expected to cost less because sodium is a soft metal that is more abundant, but has lower energy density which means they have shorter ‘distance’ range. Sodium-ion battery packs are not yet commercially available, although they are being researched for potential future application in electric vehicle production.
Why don't they use lead acid batteries in electric cars?
Lead is one of the heaviest metals with a density of 11,300 kg/m3. Lithium is the second lightest metal with a density of 530 kg/m3. Lead-acid batteries have a short lifespan - and they require being kept fully charged at all times to work efficiently. Keeping them charged in a gas powered car because the alternator runs off a gas engine. Lead batteries are heavy and they only provide short ranges. They have to be replaced frequently in all electric applications.
Are AGM batteries better than Lead Acid? Absorbent Glass Mat and Gel Cell Batteries are lead batteries. Supposedly they last longer (red flag here because it’s still a lead battery), but the prices are much higher and do not provide reasonable performance increases. If they get cold, or fully discharge once, they're dead. When exchanging an AGM battery you have to "register" the battery to tell your electrical system that the battery has been replaced, and it's real difficult to “marry” it to the vehicle application.
Why do lithium battery packs need battery management systems (BMS) while lead-acid batteries do not? Lead acid batteries like to be fully charged all the time and for the last 165 years they have mainly been charged with alternators in cars. They don’t like to be discharged below 80%. A typical 12 volt battery is usually overcharged up to 14 volts. Once the liquid chemical battery is fully (over) charged, a lead acid battery electrolyzes water into hydrogen sulfide gas. The sensitive electronics of the computerized BMS system cannot be self-contained inside the battery with sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide gas. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas known for its pungent "rotten egg" odor at low concentrations. It is extremely flammable and highly toxic. Putting a high tech component into a cheap battery is not technically or economically feasible.
How often do lead acid batteries emit hydrogen sulfide gas? Charging lead acid battery in general produces hydrogen sulfide gas. Some sealed batteries may have a one-way valve designed to release any excess gas and pressure if the battery is overcharged beyond its maximum capacity. Most do not.
What about lead poisoning in SLA batteries? Lead is a toxic metal that can enter the body by inhalation of lead dust or ingestion when touching the mouth with lead-contaminated hands. If leaked onto the ground, acid and lead particles contaminate the soil and become airborne when dry. Children and fetuses of pregnant women are most vulnerable to lead exposure because their bodies are developing. Excessive levels of lead can affect a child’s growth, cause brain damage, harm kidneys, impair hearing and induce behavioral problems. In adults, lead can cause memory loss and lower the ability to concentrate, as well as harm the reproductive system. Lead is also known to cause high blood pressure, nerve disorders, and muscle and joint pain. Are Lithium batteries toxic? The Lithium itself is benign — and the battery contains little toxic material. Nevertheless, caution is required when working with lithium batteries because they contain other metals and holds an extremely high amount of energy that you don’t want to tamper with. Since each cell is contained, the BMS system can be placed in the shell on top of the battery pack and regulates all these functions for safety purposes. They last a lot longer and keep lead from entering the environment and Lithium batteries have a much higher likelihood of being recycled compared to lead batteries.
Battery Management Systems
How can people mitigate the problems with lithium-ion batteries? Be sure it has a quality BMS system to provide real time data. Correct usage and storage of lithium-ion batteries is also extremely important. Batteries should not be exposed to high external temperatures, for example from being left in direct sunlight for long periods of time. Overcharging is another fundamental issue resolved by BMS as this can create excessive heat inside the battery cell. Therefore, it is important to always use a reputable brand, with a quality BMS, use the proper charger supplied by the manufacturer. Good quality chargers, designed specifically for the battery you are using, control the amount of charge going into the cell and will cut off when it is fully charged to ensure the system does not over-heat. Concerns are when a lithium-ion battery sustains any physical damage, such as being dropped or pierced, or they are exposed to repetitious over charging where there is no BMS to manage the charge cutoff.
Why don’t we just use other forms of batteries for electric vehicles?
Other rechargeable battery types do exist and are widely used – such as nickel-cadmium and even lead-acid which date back to the 19th century. However, lithium-ion batteries are more useful, last longer, are lighter weight, provide longer lifespans, and have greater value long term plus they combine fast charging, long charge holding and high-power density, for more battery life in a smaller package.
What needs to be done to make lithium-ion batteries safer?
Quality Lithium battery packs should feature a quality battery management system (BMS) which is designed to protect the battery cells and prevent failures from occurring. The BMS tracks data including temperature, cell voltage, cell current, and cell charge to help ensure that each part of the battery is working correctly and safely. Cooling provisions can also be linked to a BMS to reduce the battery pack temperature if it is getting too hot. Low voltage cutoff and over discharge protection is also vital for batteries that are neglected to prevent accidents and over charging when people want to “jump” the batteries in an attempt to revive a dead rechargeable battery. Education is critical to inform people that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take care of your battery and it will perform. It is vital that the BMS is monitored by the user. The data is there for the user to make educated decisions about charging and storage. Many any smaller lithium-ion applications do not possess a BMS as it is not cost-effective to do so, like in wristwatches.
Do cell phones and laptops use BMS with lithium batteries?
Yes. A laptop battery pack integrates a battery management system (BMS) inside the removable battery shell casing that ensures that the battery is kept safe even when it is removed from the device. A laptop BMS typically will protect the battery from short circuiting, and under charging, providing over charge and overheat protections. The internal BMS in laptop batteries controls and safeguards the energy storage and have consequently been developed into an essential part of the design of nearly all electronic portable devices. The battery management system (BMS) is an important component that helps to regulate the battery's voltage and temperature to ensure optimal performance and safety. Cell phones have a similar system but is self-contained in the product since the battery is not removable.
What is the best battery for a mobility scooter or powered personal electric vehicle?
The simple answer the Triad Automotive Grade Lithium battery with fully integrated BMS is the best battery for mobility scooters and personal electric vehicles. Lithium batteries are the way to go. They do have a more expensive upfront cost than SLA, AGM, and Gel batteries, but they can last up to 10 times as long making them lower cost in the long run. You also get 100% – 200% more range on a single charge with a lithium battery. Lead acid batteries should not be discharged below 50% and Lithium Batteries have a discharge depth of up to 90-95%
5 reasons why you should consider only purchasing an electric trike with Lithium BMS.
Triad batteries have 6X more sustainable power over the lifetime of a comparable amount of lead batteries. That means you can go further longer and can maximize your distance and range.
2. Triad batteries have at least 10-24X longer lifespan than lead batteries once you compare the charge cycles and maximum distance of a comparable amount of lead batteries over the lifetime of the Triad Battery. You save a lot more money over the lifetime of your Triad and have to replace your batteries less often. You go further longer. They discharge a consistent amount of power during the entire cycle and the vehicle doesn’t radically slow because your batteries are low. The BMS monitor also provides actionable data for peace of mind and confidence that you won’t be stranded by an old, antiquated lead battery.
Triad batteries are only 6 lbs., they are not 40 lbs. This provides better vehicle handling, less extra weight load on the vehicle, and makes it easier to lift and move the vehicle. This is of greatest importance any time you may need to be more mobile with your Triad for transport.
Triad batteries can operate in lower temperatures down to negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 Celsius) meaning you can drive in all seasons, even very cold weather.
Triad batteries are removable for storage, or they can be swapped out for longer distance or additional hours of operation. You can bring the battery indoors for storage or charging. Lead batteries are hard wired and cannot be removed.
Call Triad at 855-648-7423 to speak to a qualified sales representative today to answer any additional questions you may have.