1. What is LiFePo4 battery?

LiFePo4 battery is a kind of rechargeable lithium battery, and its main components are LiFePo4 and graphite. The main components are LiFePo4 and graphite. LiFePo4 is used as the positive electrode material, while graphite is used as the negative electrode material. Although the main component of LiFePo4 battery still contains lithium iron ions, but compared with the general lithium battery, LiFePo4 battery has more excellent performance. Therefore, since its invention, LiFePo4 battery has received attention from various industries, and is constantly trying to be used in emerging industries.

2. Advantages of LiFePo4 batteries

2.1 Good quality and low price

LiFePo4 battery production materials iron and phosphate storage are large, which does not contain expensive nickel, cobalt elements, which makes the LiFePo4 battery can maintain high performance at the same time, has a low production cost, low price.

2.2 It can realize complete discharge

Compared with other lithium batteries, LiFePo4 batteries can reach one hundred percent of the depth of discharge, in the traditional lead-acid batteries stop working, but also to maintain a normal power supply, is a true full cycle power supply. It is a true full cycle power supply. And full discharge generally does not produce a large impact, the service life can still exceed 3000 times. If you keep the discharge rate below seventy percent each time, the service life will be increased to 5000 times!

2.3 Long Battery Lifespan

First of all, we need to know that any battery will reduce the charging and discharging efficiency and battery capacity as the number of cycles increases. Compared with the traditional lead-acid battery life of up to 500 cycles, LiFePo4 battery life of up to 3000-5000 times makes it one of the most affordable and hassle-free choice.

2.4 Wide temperature range

Compared with other types of batteries, LiFePo4 batteries can be used in a wider temperature range. General lithium-ion batteries are suitable for temperatures between zero and forty degrees, and in extreme temperature environments, its efficiency and life expectancy received a greater impact of temperature.

The emergence of LiFePo4 battery solves the problem of temperature. It can be used normally at temperatures from minus twenty degrees Celsius to sixty degrees Celsius, and the temperature range reaches eighty degrees across. In addition to part of the polar environment, it can be used in almost all places on earth.

2.5 High safety factor

Due to the strong bond of the phosphate ion in LiFePo4, its chemical properties are more stable compared to the chemical properties of other lithium-ion battery contents, with better thermal stability and structural stability, thus enhancing the safety coefficient of LiFePo4 battery.

LiFePo4 is non-combustible, compared with the use of lithium cobalt oxide as the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, its use in high temperature environments will not produce thermal decomposition, can well prevent the battery from overheating and thermal runaway, to achieve a lower internal temperature in the use of the process, reducing the probability of explosion.

Secondly, LiFePo4 batteries will not be like traditional lead-acid batteries in the use of the release of harmful gases, endangering the human body.

2.6 Strong performance

The high performance of LiFePo4 battery is mainly reflected in the following three points.

First of all, the charging time of LiFePo4 battery is short, the charging rate is five to six times that of traditional lead-acid batteries, and it usually takes only a few hours to be fully charged.

Second, with the increase in the number of cycles, the efficiency of the battery will continue to decline. However, LiFePo4 battery in the low efficiency and low life state can still maintain a smooth and continuous power supply.

Finally, LiFePo4 batteries require zero maintenance costs, do not need any maintenance, which can save users a lot of maintenance costs.

2.7 High environmental index

As the LiFePo4 battery does not contain nickel and cobalt, the two rare earth elements, which to a certain extent reduces the mining of the crust of the two original acid caused by environmental pollution.

More importantly, the common lithium-ion batteries contain cobalt oxides, etc. have a certain risk of leakage, while LiFePo4 batteries do not contain heavy metals and rare earth elements, in the recycling process is not easy to leakage, the overall non-toxic and most of the companies already have the technical requirements for its complete recycling.

2.8 High energy density of the battery

LiFePo4 batteries have high energy density. This means that in the same amount of storage with other types of batteries under the premise of LiFePo4 batteries are smaller in size and lighter in weight. Thanks to this advantage, LiFePo4 batteries can be placed in any small space, and considering that there is no risk of leakage, the installation space can even be completely narrow and closed.

Secondly, the advantages of high energy density make LiFePo4 batteries become the first choice of many emerging industries, such as: solar power generation systems within the battery pack, electric vehicles, etc.. In particular, batteries placed inside electric vehicles need both high performance and the ability to save valuable space inside the vehicle.

2.9 Ability to provide a constant and smooth output

The discharge curve of a battery refers to the change in voltage as the battery is being charged. Generally speaking, the discharge curve of most batteries is curved, and the voltage will gradually decrease as the battery discharges. While the LiFePo4 battery has an almost flat discharge curve during use, regardless of whether it is fully discharged or not, the LiFePo4 battery can ensure a continuous and smooth output, which can meet the requirements of larger loads, and at the same time, this characteristic also makes it more efficient when charging.

2.10 Low self-discharge rate

The self-discharge rate of the battery generally depends on the use, storage environment and other factors. However, generally speaking, the self-discharge rate of LiFePO4 battery is only one to three percent when it is not in use, while the self-discharge rate of traditional lead-acid battery reaches 30 percent. This means that LiFePo4 batteries do not have significant self-discharge losses even if they are not used for a long time.

However, in order to maintain the best use of the battery in the future, it is recommended that you charge the battery every once in a while.

3. The difference between LiFePo4 battery and other batteries

3.1 Difference with traditional lead-acid batteries

First of all, whether it is from the self-discharge rate, service life and other aspects, traditional lead-acid batteries are not as good as LiFePo4 batteries. Secondly, lead-acid batteries need to be constantly repaired and replaced at a later stage, which means that they bring higher maintenance costs and will add an extra expense for you.

3.2 Difference with Gel Battery

Like LiFePo4 batteries, gel batteries are characterized by a low self-discharge rate and high energy density, but the charging time of gel batteries is longer, and overcharging will bring irreversible damage to the battery. Therefore, when using gel batteries, it is necessary to disconnect the charger even after the end of charging.

3.3 Difference with NMC battery

The difference between lithium nickel manganese cobalt batteries and LiFePo4 batteries lies in the difference of cathode materials, lithium nickel manganese cobalt batteries use lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide as cathode material, and the cathode material of LiFePo4 batteries is ferrous phosphate ions. In comparison, NMC batteries have higher energy density and are more suitable for cell phones, laptops, electrical energy and other electronic products, and accordingly their cost will be more expensive.

4. LiFePo4 batteries are mainly used in which fields

4.1 Family energy storage

LiFePo4 battery is known for its high energy density and compact and lightweight design, compared with lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion batteries, it can provide more power than its size and weight. And thanks to the unique chemistry of LiFePo4 batteries, it is possible to achieve a high charge acceptance rate, which means that they can be charged quickly without affecting the service life. At the same time, LiFePO4 batteries lose less power due to old discharge, making them more suitable for use as home energy storage batteries.

4.2 Electric Vehicle Field

In order to improve the performance of electric vehicles, to meet the acceleration needs of higher discharge rate, lighter weight and longer service life, LiFePo4 batteries in the field of electric vehicles is becoming more and more popular. Nowadays, the market share of LiFePO4 battery in the field of electric vehicles has reached more than 30%, and with the continuous improvement of the technology, its weight in the field of electric vehicles will become heavier and heavier in the future.

4.3 Solar power generation system

The battery pack installed in the solar power generation system needs to be responsible for temporarily storing electricity during the daytime and then discharging it at night for home use. Therefore, the battery pack used in the solar power generation system needs to meet a high number of cycles, and in order to save costs and maintenance costs in the later stages, it is necessary to choose the type of battery that is not easy to damage and does not require maintenance. LiFePo4 battery is undoubtedly the best choice for solar power system battery pack.

5. Prediction of the future development of LiFePo4 batteries

Under the general classification of lithium batteries, LiFePo4 batteries are far superior to lithium-ion batteries, both in terms of performance and price as well as environmental protection. Especially in the standby energy, solar photovoltaic power generation systems and electric vehicles and other emerging industries, more and more companies have chosen to use LiFePo4 batteries.

At the same time, in the international environment, environmental issues are receiving more and more attention, LiFePo4 batteries such as non-leakage, easy to recycle and do not need to spend a lot of manpower and resources to mine the rare earth elements of the battery type in the future will have a better development.