Difference between Lead-Acid Battery & Lithium Battery

Hi guys in this post we will discuss the Difference between Lead-Acid batteries & Lithium batteries. Before the use of lithium-ion batteries lead acid batteries were used in the 1970s. Lithium-ion batteries were used in large numbers due to their durability in place of lead acid. Both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries. So let’s get started Difference between a Lead-Acid Battery & Lithium Battery

Lead-Acid Batteries

Lead acid batteries come with a lead plate dipped in electrolyte sulfuric acid solution. This battery comes with many cells with positive and negative plates. Lead and lead dioxide are used for creating these anodes and reach with electrolytes for producing electrical energy.

Features

• Lead acid batteries are low cost compared to other batteries and best to use for different applications.
• It has features to handle different temperature conditions
• It has different sizes and capacity value
• They are environment friendly since has recycling features

Lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion battery causes lithium compounds for positive and negative pins. These batteries come with a positive electrode created with lithium cobalt oxide and a negative electrode comes with grphote and separators that save connection between electrodes. The electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries is lithium salt solved in organic solvent.

Features

• Lithium-ion batteries provide high energy density as compared to lead-acid batteries, which provide high capacity and longer working life.
• A lithium-ion battery is less weight comes with a compact design and is best used as a portable option.
• They have lower rates and retain charges for a longer time when not in use.
• This battery can charged at a high rate providing high-speed charging time as compared to lead-acid batteries.

Lead-Acid vs Lithium-Ion Batteries

  Materials 

• Lithium-ion and lead acid batteries operated on the same working principle. The basic difference is the materials used for the cathode, anode, and electrolyte. In lead acid battery lead is used for the anode and lead oxide is for used the cathode. In lithium-ion batteries, carbon is used for the anode, and lithium oxide for the cathode.
• Lead acid battery uses sulphuric acid for electrolytes and li-ion batteries use lithium salt for electrolytes.
• When battery-discharging ions move from anode to cathode through an electrolyte and reverse reaction occurs for charging

Cost

• Lead acid batteries are low-cost and can easily connected than lithium-ion batteries. The cost of lithium-ion batteries is double that of lead-acid batteries with the same cacpity. But if compared working life of batteries lithium is longer working as compared to lead acid batteries.

Capacity

• Battery capacity is energy stored in the battery per unit volume. It is a sign of active materials stored in the battery. Lithium battery comes with high battery capacity as compared to lead-acid batteries.

Energy Density

• Energy density is the main factor for finding battery types used for certain applications. It shows the relation between battery capacity and battery weight.

Energy Density =  (V) x (Ah)) ÷ Weight of Battery.

• • (Nominal Battery Voltage =(V)
  • Rated Battery Capacity= (Ah))
• Lithium battery comes with high specific energy as compared to lead acid batteries. So Li-ion batteries used for EV applications.

 Weight and Size

• The capacity and energy density of lithium batteries is high as compared to lead acid batteries. So weight and size of lithium are lower than lead-acid batteries with the same capacity.

Depth of Discharge

• This feature defines the maximum energy of a completely charged battery that is used without recharging. If the battery depth of discharge is 50 percent use about 50 percent of the battery capacity and connect the charger. If used more than 50 percent battery will be affected.
• 50 percent value of DOD for lead acid batteries and 80 percent for lithium batteries

Durability

• Battery durability is defined based on the time for which it works. Lead acid battery works for about 2 years if it is in proper condition and if completely drained or more than 80 percent works for about one year.

Cycle Life

• Several charging and discharging cycles of the battery are called cycle life and can done without affecting operation. Normally lithium-ion batteries provide 5000 cycle life and complete discharge not affect on life cycle. Lead acid batteries can work for  300 to 500 cycles.

Charging Time

• The lithium-ion battery is high-speed as compared to lead-acid batteries. A lead-acid battery takes about 8 hours to charge and a lithium-ion battery takes less than 2 hours to charge both with the same capacity.
• Li-ion batteries are 8 times high speed than lead acid batteries for charging.

Lead-acid batteries Working

Lead acid batteries work through a chemical reaction between lead plates and sulfuric acid electrolytes. If the battery discharges lead plates react with electrolytes and causing lead sulfate and providing electrical energy.

For battery charging process is reversed transforming lead sulfate into lead and lead dioxide. Reverse reaction helps lead aid battery to do multiple multiple recharges and discharges.

 Lithium-ion batteries working

In this battery motion of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes occurs. Lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode through an electrolyte and electrical energy produces at the time of discharging.

If the battery charges it stores lithium ions at the negative electrode that is used of future discharging. The motion of lithium ions helps to perform reverse lithium-ion batteries.