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Lead-acid vs. LiFePO₄ batteries

Created on 01.14

LiFePO4 vs Lead-Acid Battery Comparison Table

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Detailed Breakdown
1. Cycle Life & Depth of Discharge (DoD) - The #1 Factor. This is where LiFePO4 completely dominates.
· LiFePO4: You can regularly discharge a LiFePO4 battery to 80-100% of its capacity without harming it. A quality battery will still deliver 2000+ cycles (often 5-10 years of daily use)
before its capacity drops to 80%.
· Lead-Acid: To get even close to its rated cycle life, you must not discharge a lead-acid battery below 50%. Discharging it to 0% just a few times can destroy it. This means for a 100Ah battery, you only have 50Ah of usable energy.
Practical Implication: To get the same usable energy, you often need to buy a lead-acid battery bank that is twice the size of a LiFePO4 bank.
2. Cost Analysis - Upfront vs. Total Cost of Ownership
· Upfront Cost: Lead-acid wins. It's significantly cheaper to buy a lead-acid battery for a single, infrequent use.
· Long-Term Cost: LiFePO4 wins decisively. While it costs 2-3 times more upfront, it lasts 5-10 times longer. When you factor in the need to replace lead-acid batteries every 2-3 years, the LiFePO4 battery becomes cheaper over its lifetime.
Example: A system that requires 5kWh of usable energy per day.
· Lead-Acid: You'd need a ~10kWh battery bank (for 50% DoD). This bank might last 500 cycles (less than 2 years). You'd replace it 5+ times over 10 years.
· LiFePO4: You'd need a ~6kWh battery bank (for 80% DoD). This bank will easily last 3000+ cycles (10+ years). After 10 years, the total cost of the lead-acid system (including
replacements) will likely be higher than the single LiFePO4 purchase.
3. Weight & Size (Energy Density)
LiFePO4 batteries are significantly lighter and more compact. A 100Ah LiFePO4 battery weighs about 25-30 lbs, while a 100Ah lead-acid battery weighs 60-70 lbs. This makes LiFePO4 ideal for applications where weight is critical, like RVs, boats, and camper vans.
4. Charging & Efficiency
· Charging Speed: LiFePO4 can be charged at a much higher current, meaning they can go from empty to full in 1-2 hours with a powerful enough charger. Lead-acid batteries have a slow "absorption" stage that can take hours.
· Efficiency: LiFePO4 is over 95% efficient. If you put 1000 watts of solar power into it, you get over 950 watts out. Lead-acid is only 80-85% efficient, meaning you lose 150-200 watts of your solar energy as heat. This is a huge factor for solar power systems.
5. Maintenance & Safety
· Maintenance: Sealed LiFePO4 and AGM lead-acid are both maintenance-free. Flooded lead-acid batteries require regular topping up with distilled water.
· Safety: LiFePO4 is one of the safest lithium chemistries. It is very stable and resistant to
thermal runaway (fire). Standard lithium-ion (like in laptops) can be a hazard, but LiFePO4 is not. Lead-acid is generally safe but can off-gas explosive hydrogen gas when charging and
contains corrosive sulfuric acid.
6. Cold Weather Performance
This is one area where traditional lead-acid has a slight edge.
· Lead-Acid: Can be charged at lower temperatures (though performance is reduced).
· LiFePO4: Cannot be charged below 32°F (0°C) as it will permanently damage the battery.
However, they can discharge at much colder temperatures. Many modern LiFePO4 batteries have built-in low-temperature charging protection or optional heaters to overcome this
limitation.
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When to Choose Which?
Choose LiFePO4 if:
· Cycling is daily or frequent (e.g., Solar power system, daily RV/van use, golf cart, trolling motor).
· Weight and space are critical (e.g., Marine application, RV).
· You need fast charging (e.g., Off-grid with a generator, quick turnaround between uses).
· You want a "set and forget" system with no maintenance.
· You are focused on long-term value and can afford the higher initial investment. Choose Lead-Acid if:
· The budget is the primary constraint and you need a solution now.
· The application is for backup/standby power (e.g., UPS for a computer, emergency light) where discharges are rare and the battery is usually kept fully charged.
· The battery will be used in an uncontrolled, very cold environment where charging below freezing is a possibility and you cannot add a heater.
· The device is designed for lead-acid and you are not prepared to potentially upgrade the charging system (though LiFePO4 drop-in replacements often work fine).
Final Verdict
For the vast majority of modern applications—especially solar, RVs, marine, and any scenario involving daily cycling—LiFePO4 is the superior and more economical choice in the long run. The higher upfront cost is an investment that pays for itself through longer life, better
performance, and greater usability.
Lead-acid remains a viable option only for budget-conscious, infrequent, or single-use applications where its shortcomings are not a critical factor.
Media Contact:
Battery Asia Insights Team
Shirley Huang
Battery Asia (S) Pte Ltd
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