Which is better: lithium battery or lead-acid battery for electric vehicle

Lithium batteries are superior. They outperform lead-acid batteries by over threefold in both volumetric and weight-specific energy density. Additionally, they are more compact, lighter, and offer a longer cycle life.

The distance a vehicle can travel depends on its battery capacity. It's pointless to compare individual models just for the sake of distance.

For example, both are 48V20AH. Lithium batteries and lead-acid batteries are essentially the same in capacity, but lithium batteries are slightly lighter, so they can be a bit farther than lead-acid batteries.

However, if lithium batteries are 48V10AH and lead-acid batteries are 48V20AH, the lead-acid battery clearly has the upper hand. Simply put, the battery with greater capacity delivers better range. The key advantage of lithium batteries over lead-acid is their lighter weight and ability to handle high-current discharge, while all other specifications remain the same.

You can look up the safety and cost-effectiveness of lithium batteries when connected in series with high-capacity units. Why do mobile phone batteries explode? Although lead-acid batteries are bulky, they are far more stable than lithium batteries! Their costs are generally acceptable. However, lead-acid batteries are superior in stability, safety, and cost compared to lithium batteries. Regardless of the type—whether lithium or lead-acid—batteries are heavily polluting products.

1. Currently, the market still sees a higher prevalence of lead-acid batteries in electric vehicle batteries compared to lithium-ion batteries, likely due to the relatively high cost of lithium-ion batteries. As a result, existing "lithium electric vehicle" designs often reduce the battery capacity to lower overall implementation costs, leading to a lack of diversity in available models.

Lead-acid and lithium batteries can't be judged solely by their pros and cons, as each has its own strengths and weaknesses, catering to different user needs. Currently, most lithium battery products on the market are electric bicycles with limited range. However, for long-range applications like four-wheel electric vehicles and elderly mobility scooters, lead-acid batteries remain the more suitable choice under current conditions.

2. Lithium-ion batteries operate through the intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions between electrodes. During charging and discharging, Li+ ions shuttle between the electrodes: during charging, Li+ ions detach from the cathode, pass through the electrolyte, and intercalate into the anode, leaving the anode in a lithium-rich state; the process reverses during discharge. Lithium-based materials are typically used as electrode materials, with graphite being the most prevalent anode material. Compared to lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries offer advantages such as lighter weight, higher specific capacity, and longer cycle life. As a power source for elderly electric mobility vehicles, they are not only lightweight, portable, and easy to charge but also contribute to the "lightweight and minimalist" design of the entire vehicle.

3. Lead-acid battery electrodes are mainly made of lead and its oxides, and the electrolyte is sulfuric acid solution. In the charged state, the main component of the positive electrode is lead dioxide, and the main component of the negative electrode is lead. In the discharged state, the main components of both electrodes are lead sulfate.

4. While both types of batteries serve as energy storage devices, they differ in other aspects. Lead-acid batteries are safer and more cost-effective, though their lower energy density results in larger physical dimensions. Currently, as battery (energy storage) technology research has yet to achieve breakthroughs—meaning "low-cost, high-performance" batteries have not been commercialized—integrating the superior characteristics of existing lead-acid and lithium batteries for technological advancement should remain the primary research focus. This approach is expected to chart a clearer course for the development of elderly electric mobility vehicles and the broader electric mobility industry in the foreseeable future.

Lead-acid batteries are commonly used in electric vehicles, mainly due to their high cost-effectiveness.

When comparing battery life under identical conditions, lithium-ion batteries may outperform others slightly. This is because lithium-ion batteries are lighter, reducing the overall vehicle weight and consequently extending the driving range.

But I still recommend lead-acid. The main reason is:

1. Cost-effective. A lead-acid battery pack typically costs just a few hundred yuan, while a lithium battery pack can easily cost over a thousand yuan, sometimes nearly two thousand.

2. Safety. Remember that incident from two years ago in Nanjing where a woman riding an electric bike with a lithium battery had her rear seat explode due to extreme heat, sending her buttocks flying?

3. Lead-acid batteries are sufficient. Modern models typically offer 50-60 km range, which is more than adequate for household use. Lithium batteries are simply unnecessary.

Lead-acid battery packs typically weigh between 16-30 kilograms and are bulky, whereas lithium batteries generally weigh 2.5-3.0 kilograms with a more compact size, making them lighter and easier to transport. While it's challenging to definitively compare their quality, consumers can choose high-quality batteries from reputable manufacturers based on their specific needs.

The cost of the main materials of lithium battery, such as cathode material, anode material, current collector, separator, electrolyte, etc. is much higher than that of lead-acid battery, while the cost of the auxiliary materials and external circuit system of lead-acid battery is very low.

Due to the production process, the labor cost of lithium battery is relatively high. In the manufacturing cost, the labor cost of lithium battery accounts for more than 40%, while the labor cost of lead-acid battery is generally 10%～20%.

The machinery used in lithium battery production is expensive and has a high value, with significant depreciation and wear. Most processes in lithium battery production are irreversible, whereas lead-acid batteries can be repaired and reused. The recycling value of used lead-acid batteries exceeds 40%, while that of lithium batteries is virtually zero.

Lithium batteries outperform lead-acid batteries by over threefold in both volumetric and weight-specific energy density. They are more compact and lightweight, with an extended cycle life. For electric vehicles, lithium batteries typically deliver over 800 charge cycles, while those using lithium iron phosphate cathode materials can achieve approximately 2,000 cycles—1.5 to 5 times longer than lead-acid batteries. This significantly reduces operational costs, extends service life, and enhances user convenience. A standout feature is their wide charging range, which allows charging within 20 minutes to 1 hour with over 84% efficiency. With further technological advancements, this capability will be further optimized.

Current lithium batteries typically achieve an energy density of 200-260Wh/g, while lead-acid batteries range from 50-70Wh/g. This makes lithium batteries 3-5 times more energy-dense per unit weight than lead-acid counterparts. Consequently, lead-acid batteries outperform lithium batteries by 3-5 times in energy storage capacity. As a result, lithium batteries hold a clear advantage in lightweight energy storage systems.