Lithium Battery

Lead Acid Batt Fall Short in Performance When Compared to 7.2KW Lithium Batteries

By Kunwer Sachdev · Published 14 November 2023 · Updated 18 February 2025

Lead Acid Batt Fall Short in Performance Compared 7.2KW Li Batt.

Suppose we must run a 7 KW load for one hour on the Inverter/UPS Hybrid Solar Inverter or the solar PCU. In that case, the 7.2 KW Lithium-ion or LifePO4 batteries are the clear answer, but if we need to run the same load on the Tubular Lead Acid batteries, then the answer is we need 10 number 200 Ah tubular batteries, which might not be able to run 7KW load for 1 hour. So, let us experiment and find out the answer by running this load on a 10KVA/120V Inverter and then comparing the pricing. When we ran this experiment, we got the real answer and Tubular batteries of 200Ah capacity fell short of giving 1 hour on the 7KW load, and it gave the backup for 50 minutes only. In the case of the Lithium LifePO4 battery Inverter of 10KVA/96V, we got more than 1 hour of backup. So if we compare the price of a 7.2KW Lithium battery, which will be approximately Rs 1,35,000-150,000, and the cost of 10 tubular batteries of 200Ah, it will be approximately Rs. 1,20000-1,50,000. So, if we see the life of the Tubular battery and the Lithium battery has no match, a Lithium battery of 7.2KW will be cheaper than a Tubular Lead Acid battery.https://suvastika.com/difference-between-tubular-and-lithium-battery/

Feature	7.2KW Lithium Battery	Lead Acid Battery
Capacity	C1	C20
Cycle Life	2000-3000 cycles	500-600 cycles
Charge Time	2-4 hours	10-15 hours
Depth of Discharge (DoD)	80-100%	50-60%
Operating Temperature Range	-20°C to 60°C	0°C to 40°C
Maintenance	Low	High
Safety	More stable	Less stable
Cost	Rs 15,000-20,000	Rs 18,000-22,000

Lead Acid Batt Fall Short in Performance Compared 7.2KW Li Batt.

The charging time of Tubular vs the charging time of Lithium battery: This is another factor that makes them completely different as the Lithium battery can be charged in 2 to 3 hours whereas the Tubular battery takes 12 to 15 hours to charge.
The cost of charging Tubular Vs Lithium battery: The Lithium battery is charged in two steps and, once charged, doesn’t need trickle charging. The Lithium Lead Acid battery will be charged in 4 to 6 stages, which consumes more power. Lastly, the trickle charging maintains the tubular battery’s gravity intact, and the tubular battery’s self-discharge is much higher than the lithium battery’s. So, the Tubular battery gets more electricity for charging, which is a big waste of power and an extra financial burden on the user.
Lithium has built-in BMS, so it will minutely control all the parameters in Lithium.
The construction of a Tubular battery is unregulated compared to the construction of a Lithium battery cell. No two batteries can match in backup time in the case of Tubular Lead Acid batteries as the construction of each cell can’t be matched, whereas the Lithium is controlled. All the cells are sorted before the battery is made, and equal cell voltage cells are separated by measuring the IR values so that the battery does not have a mismatch in the cell’s IR value.

Maintenance of Tubular Vs Lithium battery: The maintenance of Tubular batteries for refilling battery water is a big headache. The timing of refilling can’t be measured beforehand, so generally, users forget to refill the water in time after refilling the Tubular battery; another major challenge is spillage, which could destroy the floor, which happens in most households and offices.
The Abuse of Lithium Vs Tubular Battery: The Lithium battery has a built-in BMS called Battery Management System, which handles charging and discharging over voltage and under voltage of the battery pack. Hence, no abuse is possible as the BMS very well protects it. Whereas there is no such protection in the Tubular Lead Acid battery, all such conditions can happen and shorten the Tubular battery’s Life.
The explosion of Tubular is a common problem, and the Lithium LifePo4 technology has a safety history: there have been numerous instances where the Tubular batteries have blasted. People got killed, and the Lithium battery, especially LifePO4, has been the safest in the world, and no such major accidents have occurred so far.

Repair of Tubular Lead Acid Battery compares to Lithium battery pack: The Tubular battery once declared dead or overcharged or one cell fails, then that battery goes for the waste selling whereas the Lithium battery can be repaired very easily as one cell or two cells can be replaced easily in the Lithium battery pack.

Pollution by the Tubular batteries: Tubular Lead batteries create pollution by emitting Lead fumes, which are very dangerous for people in the vicinity. Lithium has no such challenge. It’s completely safe, as everyone has used lithium batteries in their mobile phones, laptops, etc., for the last two decades.

Energy Density

Lithium batteries have a much higher energy density than lead acid batteries, meaning they can store more energy per unit of weight. This makes them ideal for applications where weight and space are a concern, such as electric vehicles and portable electronics.

Cycle Life

Lithium batteries also have a much longer cycle life than lead acid batteries, meaning they can be charged and discharged more times before they need to be replaced. This makes them a more cost-effective option in the long run.

Depth of Discharge (DoD)

Lithium batteries can be discharged to a much greater depth than lead acid batteries without damaging the battery. This means you can get more usable energy from a lithium battery than a lead-acid battery.

Operating Temperature Range

Lithium batteries can operate in a wider temperature range than lead-acid batteries. This makes them more versatile and suitable for use in various applications.

Maintenance

Lithium batteries require no maintenance, while lead-acid batteries require regular watering and cleaning.

Safety

Lithium batteries are more stable than lead-acid batteries and are less likely to explode or leak.

Cost

Lithium batteries are cheaper than lead-acid batteries; their life is three times that of lead-acid batteries.

Overall

Lithium batteries are superior to lead-acid batteries in almost every way. They are more energy-dense, have a longer cycle life, can be charged faster, can be discharged to a greater depth, can operate in a wider temperature range, require less maintenance, and are safer.

In conclusion

The best type of battery for a particular application will depend on the specific needs of that application. However, in general, lithium batteries are the better choice for most applications.

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