Lithium battery uses lithium as an anode. Its history originated in the 1980s-1990s. The significant changes in the portable electronic market began with the emergence of lithium batteries. Lithium batteries have not only changed the convenient electronic market but also responded well in the electronic, solar, mobile phone, medical phone, power backup, and electric vehicle markets. These batteries have the characteristics of high energy density, and the cost of the technology is significantly reduced.
Before lithium-ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries were hot products in the market. However, cadmium is a harmful substance, and the battery has a high self-discharge rate, so there are gradual substitutes. Because lead-acid batteries rely on dangerous metal lead and have a low energy density, lead-acid batteries have not been recognized by the market.
Market price trend of lithium battery in recent ten years
In the past decade, the price of lithium-ion batteries has fallen by more than 80%. In its latest analysis, guide house insights said that the cost of lithium batteries would be more than 40% higher than that in the future; in other words, the price of lithium batteries will be reduced by more than 40%. The price unit of lithium battery is kWh. At present, the rated voltage of 1 kWh battery is 80 ah / 12.8 volts, and its price is 25000. According to a report published in the IHS market, a lithium-ion battery with a cost of $100 / kWh will be born in 2023. The factors of price decline include the rapid growth of scale, the increase of electric vehicle application, and the growth of global manufacturing capacity.
Types of battery technology
Lead-acid batteries
Lead acid batteries are large and heavy, very bulky. They are not suitable for fast charging because they are too hot during charging. Its typical cycle life is 300 to 500 cycles in shorter cases. However, they are active in the market, easy to buy, and famous for their reliability.
VRLA batteries
Another term for valve-regulated lead-acid battery or VRLA is sealed lead-acid battery. Because these batteries do not require maintenance, there is no need for electrolytes or water. The application scope of VRLA battery includes telecom cell, UPS replacement battery, emergency lighting, and other applications.
Lithium Battery
Lithium battery is light, but their energy density and electrochemical potential energy are very high. The power of the lithium-ion battery itself decreases very slowly and does not need regular maintenance.
Application of lithium battery
With the development of lithium batteries, it is increasingly used as the backup power supply in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems, and the development momentum of lithium batteries is rapid. Lithium batteries are also exaggerating their scope of application. Its application can go deep into the fields of automobiles, household UPS, toys, and remote controls.
The difference between lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries
- Convenience
Lithium battery has a mobile interface. Moving everywhere is the main advantage of a lithium battery. Lithium batteries are straightforward to carry and can be taken anywhere. They weigh about 12kg and are very light. They consider only a quarter as much as a typical lead-acid battery.
- Fast charging speed
Nowadays, the world is in a period of rapid development, and the pace of life is fast, so fast charging is also a primary living demand. Lead acid batteries usually take 10 hours to be fully charged, while lithium-ion batteries can be fully charged in 2 to 4 hours.
- Long lifespan
According to statistics, the average life of lithium-ion batteries is more than ten years. Over their lifetime, they can carry out more than 2000 charging and discharging cycles in their life. The life cycle of lead-acid battery is about 1500 times, 500 times less than that of a lithium battery.
- Security
There is no threat to children, and it is incredibly safe. Why is there no spark when connecting the battery to the inverter? Because all positive and negative terminals are attached under the plug and play connection socket, there is no electricity without a connection.
- Beautiful appearance
It has the same aesthetic appearance as any ordinary home appliance. We can regard it as a refrigerator, TV, or any decorative item and let it play a decorative role.
Why future is the world of lithium ion batteries?
Lithium ion batteries are more and more used in emerging technologies. Why is this technology increasingly popular with solar backup power systems and electric vehicles? Compared with lead-acid battery, lithium battery has higher efficiency, faster charging speed, and longer lifespan and can provide reliable, stable, and long-lasting power. Put lead-acid, and lithium ion battery has a high purchase price, fewer maintenance times, and long service life. If this continues, it is expected that the cost of a lithium ion battery will be the same as that of a lead-acid battery in 2-3 years.
Application of lithium battery in electric vehicle
The choice of the electric vehicle battery is diversified. However, the ideal option is still a lithium battery because a lithium battery has a high energy density ratio and good high-temperature performance. Meanwhile, they are also very light, which can reduce the car’s overall weight. They have a lower power consumption than other lithium-ion batteries and can be discharged for a long time. The above characteristics show that the ideal battery for electric bicycles, cars, and motorcycles is a lithium battery.
Disadvantages of lithium ion batteries
High price -Although manufacturers have constantly been controlling the cost of lithium-ion batteries, it is still high compared with nickel-cadmium batteries. As it enters the market and is being widely used, producers are trying to improve technology and reduce costs.
Protection against high temperature–Lithium battery is susceptible to high temperature. Be careful when charging, and prevent overcharge and over-discharge. Too much heat will cause these batteries to deteriorate faster.
Natural aging–Lithium-ion batteries, like people, get old with age. Each battery can withstand 500-1000 charge-discharge cycles. Therefore, these batteries sometimes need to be replaced. If embedded in the equipment, replacing them may become a headache. Of course, since there are questions, there must be answers. Experiments show that when the battery power is 40%, storing it in a cool place can reduce the aging effect.
Inconvenient transportation–The sensitivity of lithium ion batteries to high temperature has been discussed in the above article. Some researchers warn that batteries should not be overcharged or overheated. If batteries are overcharged or overheated, they may even explode. As a result, many airlines limit the number of batteries passengers carry. If many batteries need to be transported, it is recommended to transport them by water.
Top 10 lithium battery manufacturers in the world:
- Tesla
Tesla is a leading clean energy company in the United States and one of the five largest battery companies globally. Electric vehicles, battery energy storage, solar products, and related products and services are the company’s main products. It is proud that Tesla, Panasonic’s gigafactory, is its largest lithium-ion manufacturer.
- LG
Founded in South Korea, LG is a Korean giant and the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer. At present, the company is vigorously expanding the field of lithium battery manufacturing and is building extensive manufacturing capabilities worldwide.
- CARL
China’s CATL will open large factories to meet the growing global demand as the world’s second-largest battery manufacturer and China’s largest battery manufacturer.
- Loom Solar
Loom solar has been an emerging clean energy company in India. The company mainly sells solar panels and other components, and its online business is a significant feature. The company plans to develop the field of lithium battery technology vigorously and strive to have a foothold in lithium battery technology.
- Panasonic
Panasonic is well-known in the world. It is not only the fourth largest lithium battery company in the world but also the first company in Japan. Panasonic has close ties with Tesla in the United States. Therefore, it is not surprising that Panasonic has made profits in the battery market.
- BYD
Founded in 1995, BYD has a good brand effect in new energy vehicles in China. The company is mainly dean in electronics, automobiles, new energy, and rail transit.
- SDI
SDI has two identities, one is the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer, and the other is the world’s first small consumer lithium battery manufacturer. Factories are found all over the world.
- AESC
AESC is an industry-leading competent battery technology company committed to developing clean energy. The lithium battery designed by AESC has an enormous power capacity and can provide nearly twice the power capacity.
- Guoxuan
GuoXuan, born in 2006, is responsible for producing and operating new lithium-ion batteries and their materials. It is a supplier of battery materials and service providers.
- CALEB
CALB is a professional company that can be developed and sold. It is responsible for the production, sales, and market application of lithium-ion batteries and materials. The company’s products are of good quality. They have passed the authoritative quality system certification and obtained CE, UL, and other international certifications. CALB plans to increase production capacity in the future and expand production according to market and customer demand changes.
What is a rechargeable battery？
Many enterprises worldwide produce rechargeable batteries, among which the largest lithium battery manufacturer also has rechargeable batteries. Charging, discharging into the load, and recharging is a complete workflows. Because the workflow of rechargeable battery is very convenient and can be cycled many times, has rich sizes and shapes, and can adapt to different scenes, it has become an ideal choice and is very popular. If you own wearable devices like go pro or use medical devices such as hearing aids, you will know that their batteries are rechargeable.
What types of rechargeable batteries do the largest lithium battery manufacturers produce?
A rechargeable battery is an electric battery. Because of its high efficiency, low cost, and high profit, it has a much smaller impact on the environment than disposable batteries, so demand for it is growing.
NiMH batteries, lithium polymer, and lithium iron phosphate batteries are all in the big family of rechargeable batteries. Their fast charging speed, high energy efficiency, and less maintenance make them suitable for today’s fast-paced society.
Although the work content of rechargeable batteries is strange to you, you know we need them, and many items in our family also need them. They are very convenient.