In the spirit of National Recycling Day, Nationwide Power is ready to chime in on the lithium-ion vs sealed lead-acid battery debate.
New technology is often a great thing, leading to cleaner, safer, more cost effective, and more efficient ways of doing business. The recent introduction of lithium-ion batteries had hopes of doing all these things. While Nationwide Power has a reputation of being an early adopter of new technology, a little more vetting was needed before embracing lithium-ion batteries as the better UPS battery option over lead-acid batteries. There simply wasn’t enough information, and it wasn’t clear that the benefits of lithium-ion justified the premium price tag to the customer.
There has been much hype over lithium-ion batteries for UPS systems over the past couple years, emphasizing more efficient energy, better recharging capability, and longer life span. When you look closer however, these claims either aren’t 100% accurate, or the cost isn’t worth the reward.
What about the claims of lithium-ion being more efficient? Which option is better for the environment? Which one has a lower total cost of ownership with UPS systems – lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries? Nationwide Power has conducted their own research and found the following:
| Lithium-Ion Battery | Lead-Acid Battery |
|---|---|
| Considered hazardous material (Class 9); cannot be moved via air freight (longer lead times/downtime) | Not classified as hazardous material; no air transport restrictions |
| Not easily recyclable; must be shipped overseas, increasing environmental impact and cost | Up to 98% recyclable; processed domestically |
| Requires three times more energy to produce (450 kWh per 1 kWh output) | Lower energy requirement (150 kWh per 1 kWh output) |
| Requires more energy to charge due to higher energy density | Requires less energy to charge due to lower energy density |
|
Nearly triple the initial cost of lead-acid; Less than 1% produced domestically, so freight and supply chain risks are higher |
Lower initial cost and typically produced domestically |
| Safety: May require a secondary water-based fire system (most data rooms not equipped for Li-ion fires) | Compatible with standard Halon fire and safety systems |
| Only OEMs and specially trained service providers can maintain (raising maintenance costs) | Widespread servicing available at typical cost |
Since the introduction of lithium-ion batteries as a replacement option for lead-acid batteries, Nationwide Power has taken a highly conservative and neutral stance. There were too many unknowns and not a great enough understanding of lithium-ion batteries to jump into all the “excitement” surrounding them. Nationwide Power will continue to monitor the development of the lithium-ion market and will proceed with whatever is best for our customers.
