Battery Comparison: LiFePO4, Li-Ion and Lead/Acid
To understand these data, reported in the tables and in the graph, it is necessary to introduce the concepts of energy density (Wh/L) and maximum discharge current. In fact, LiFePO4 batteries have an energy density up to five times higher than equivalent lead/acid batteries.
| Construction typology |
Lead/ Acid |
LiCo (Lithium Cobalt) / Li-Ion |
LiFePO4 BC-LITHIUM |
| Nominal voltage [V] | 2.1 | 3.6/3.7 | 3.2 |
| Energy Density [Wh/L] | Average | High | High |
| Specific energy [Wh/Kg] | Average | High | High |
|
Max. discharge current (Discharge rate) [C] |
15 | ND | 50 |
| Safety |
Discreet (presence of toxic materials) |
Low (risk of fire and explosions) |
Excellent (no risk of fire/explosion) |
| Life cycles | > 400 | > 500 | > 2000 |
|
Product eco-friendly |
No | No | YES |
The result is that, for the same occupied volume, a lithium battery will have up to five times the energy compared to an equivalent lead/acid battery. Lithium Ion batteries (Li-Ion or LiCo) have an even higher starting power, but at a level of safety not comparable to LiFePO4 technology for automotive uses.
Furthermore, the maximum discharge current of a lithium battery is 50C, which is fifty times the battery capacity, more than three times that of lead-acid batteries.
Therefore, if a motorcycle requires a starting current (AC) of 300 A, if with traditional lead/acid batteries it would be necessary to use a battery of at least 20 Ah (15x20), if using a lithium battery a 4 Ah (50x4) battery will be sufficient.
|
BC-LITHIUM BATTERIES Main models |
Drums lead/acid corresponding |
BC LITHIUM Capacity (Oh) |
Drums pb/acid Capacity (Oh) |
BC LITHIUM Weight (Kg) |
Drums pb/acid Weight (Kg) |
Reduction of weight (Kg) |
BC LITHIUM CA (Amp) |
Drums pb/acid CA (Amp) |
Increase Cranking Amps (%) |
| BCTX5L-FP-S | YTX5L-BS | 1.6 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 105 | 70 | 50% |
| BCTX7L-FP-S | YTX7L-BS | 2.0 | 6.0 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 160 | 85 | 88% |
| BCTX9-FP | YTX9-BS | 3.0 | 8.0 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 180 | 120 | 50% |
| BCTZ10S-FP | YTZ10S | 4.0 | 8.6 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 240 | 150 | 60% |
| BCT12B-FP | YT12B-BS | 5.0 | 10.0 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 300 | 190 | 58% |
| BCTZ14S-FP-S | YTZ14S | 4.5 | 11.2 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 290 | 230 | 26% |
| BCTX20H-FP-SQ | YTX20HL-BS | 7.0 | 18.0 | 1.4 | 5.6 | 4.2 | 420 | 270 | 56% |