It’s no secret that frequent battery charging is a major frustration for customers when they purchase a battery-powered product. Most of the time, a short battery life is caused by inefficient lead acid batteries.
Whether you hear complaints about your application’s battery life or just want to deliver the best possible product experience, switching to lithium-ion technology is an effective way to improve customer satisfaction.
Before you make any major changes to your application’s power source, however, it’s helpful to get the facts on lithium vs. lead acid. Read on to learn how your customers benefit from lithium’s extended battery life.
Why Lithium Holds A Longer Charge Than Lead Acid
Lithium-ion batteries offer a long battery life due to their low resistance. Measured in milliohms, internal resistance determines how much restriction batteries encounter delivering bursts of power.
In order to calculate resistance, you must take the following battery characteristics into account:
- Size
- Temperature
- Discharge current
- Chemical makeup
A high internal resistance, which is common in lead acid batteries, prevents available energy from being delivered the way your application requires. For example, a lead acid battery may have trouble delivering power spikes. This sometimes causes a “low battery” reading on a mostly charged battery – the energy is just not able to transfer.
In addition to internal resistance, energy storage density also determines how long your battery holds a charge. Energy density is the amount of energy your battery stores in terms of space per unit volume. When measuring energy density, you should only factor in usable energy.
In comparison to lead acid batteries, lithium-ion technology offers greater energy density. Even with a relatively smaller lithium battery, your application has more power to draw from over time, extending your battery life.
The Benefits Of A Long Battery Life
Consider some of the following advantages customers receive when you equip your application with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery:
More Mobility
The longer your vehicle’s battery holds a charge, the further customers are able to travel. For example, an eBike user would be able to ride long distances to get to work, run errands or visit friends. Mobility is a key consideration for potential eBike customers, especially if they don’t own a car.
Extended Recreational Time
Whether your customers need a high performance battery to power their boating adventure or day on the golf course, lithium is the ideal battery solution. Instead of cutting a fishing trip short, customers are able to stay out on the water longer with increased battery life. And golfers are able to enjoy their game instead of worrying about a dead electric caddy battery.
Less Downtime
Frequent battery charging limits how often a customer is able to enjoy their application. For instance, a customer taking a vacation on the lake or near the ocean may want to use their electric kayak more than once per day. If they are spending more time charging their kayak than using it, they are likely to become frustrated with your product.
Customers appreciate a product that suits their lifestyle, and a long battery life is the perfect match for people with busy schedules. When you equip your application with a lithium-ion battery, you gain recognition in the market for being an industry leader who truly takes your customers’ needs to heart.