Characteristics and advantages of lithium-ion batteries

Advantages of lithium-ion batteries include:

1. Reliability and availability

Because lithium-ion batteries are made differently from lead-acid batteries, the failure rate of lithium-ion batteries is much lower.Due to longer service life and lower maintenance requirements, the UPS power supply is powered by lithium ion batteries with few failures.

Lithium-ion batteries have a lifespan of up to 15 years, depending on the chemical composition used.Compared with lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not have to be replaced every few years.

In addition, lithium-ion batteries generally have a longer cycle life than lead-acid batteries.For example, lead-acid batteries typically provide 200 discharge cycles, which means that the battery can be drained up to 50% of its rated capacity and then recharged to 100% for 200 cycles.But lithium-ion batteries can provide between 500 and 7,000 discharge cycles (depending on the chemical used) before replacing the battery.In addition, lithium-ion batteries have a lower self-discharge rate, or discharge slowly on their own when not in use, giving them a longer shelf life.

2. Lighter weight

Lithium-ion batteries are about a third heavier than lead-acid batteries.This saves data center construction costs because there is no need to reinforce the floor to support more weight.It also saves on transportation costs because it can transport more lithium-ion batteries for the same cost compared to lead-acid batteries.

3. Smaller volume

The lithium-ion battery cabinet is usually half the size of the lead-acid battery cabinet, which can save 50% of the floor space to achieve the same capacity.This allows organizations to replan and design data centers to increase the space available for IT systems.In addition, the cost of building a new data center can be saved because there can be less space for the lithium-ion battery cabinets used for UPS energy storage.

4. Higher energy density

Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density (Wh/kg, or per kilogram watt hour) and a higher power density (W/kg, or per kilogram watt).This is why lithium-ion batteries can provide the same amount of power as lead-acid batteries in a smaller size and lighter weight.

5. Work in a high temperature environment

Lithium-ion batteries can operate at temperatures of 86°F (30°C), nearly 10°C higher than lead-acid batteries.This allows organizations to raise room temperature in their data centers, thereby saving electricity for cooling, reducing cooling costs, and saving on total cost of ownership (TCO).In addition, lithium-ion batteries are not very sensitive to temperature changes, too high temperature obviously will not shorten the life of the battery.

6. Reduce maintenance

Lithium-ion batteries are equipped with a built-in Battery Management System (BMS) that provides automatic status, fault monitoring, battery balance, power optimization and external communication monitoring and maintenance functions.Battery Management Systems (BMS) enable data center facility engineers to more easily monitor battery uptime and health, reduce labor and maintenance costs, and significantly reduce the risk of battery pack failure.

7. Faster charging

Lithium-ion batteries are fully charged in about two hours, while lead-acid batteries are fully charged in about 24 hours.Faster charging times mean lithium-ion batteries are better able to handle multiple power outages.(For example, if there are multiple power outages within 24 hours, the lithium-ion battery can be recharged more quickly, providing full UPS backup time for each power outage.)

8. Environmental advantages

Lithium-ion batteries have a third of the carbon footprint of lead-acid batteries and are more environmentally friendly.