48V LIFEPO4 BATTERY APPLICATION

48V Lithium-ion Battery - An Ultimate Buying Guidelines 2021

Since the first 48V lithium-ion battery was introduced in 1991 commercially, now they have turned out to be the most integral part of advanced technology, consequently a modern way of life. Today, the 48V lithium-ion battery market has surpassed market value up to 40.5 billion USD worldwide. 

There are many types of lithium-ion batteries along with various compositions and a range available in the market. This article is largely focused on providing relevant information about 48 volt lithium batteries.

This article will help you in obtaining precise information about the following.

• 1.What is a 48V lithium-ion battery?
• 2.What are the unique features of a 48V lithium battery?
• 3.What are the benefits of a 48V lithium-ion battery?
• 4.What are the cons of a 48V lithium-ion battery?
• 5.What are the safety hazards associated with a 48V lithium-ion battery?
• 6.How long does a 48V lithium-ion battery last?
• 7.How do 48V lithium-ion batteries impact the environment?
• 8.Why do volts matter? Difference between 48V and 36V lithium batteries?
• 9.What is the estimated price for a 48v lithium-ion battery?
• 10.What are the different models of 48v lithium-ion batteries?
• 11.What are the different types of 48v lithium-ion batteries based on their application?

1. What is a 48V lithium-ion battery?

A 48V lithium-ion battery is a rechargeable battery with a high power density. These batteries are used very commonly nowadays ranging from small products like cell phones to electric automobiles. 

These are the technologically advanced batteries in which lithium-ion plays a significant role. In a 48V lithium-ion battery, lithium-ion moves from the negative electrode towards the positive electrode and back while charging and discharging the battery.

The components 48V lithium-ion battery such as graphite anode and a cathode are made of lithium oxide (LiCoO2, LiFePO4, or LiMn2O4). The most common type of 48V lithium-ion battery has lithium cobalt oxide as the cathode and graphite as the anode.

There is a porous polymer separator and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises organic solvent and lithium salts which provide media for the transportation of lithium ions. Small lithium-ions can easily cross these polymer separators.

Depending upon each cell voltage multiple cells are stacked together to form a 48V battery.

2. What are the unique features of a 48V lithium-ion battery?

48V lithium-ion batteries have gained prime importance over the last two decades to overcome the energy crisis. They have become common in consumer electronics. They are the most prevalent rechargeable batteries used in portable devices due to their high energy density and a slow loss of charge when not in use.

Some of the unique features of these batteries are given below:

They have the highest energy density as compared to other batteries about 100-265Wh/kg.

48V lithium-ion batteries have a low discharge value of about 1.5-2% per month.

They are not formed by toxic Cadmium. So Li-ion batteries are easily discarded.

Out of all rechargeable batteries, lithium-ion has the highest loss of electrons. Li-ions have a 99% CE rating or higher. Lead-acid batteries have 90% CE while nickel batteries have about 80% CE.

48V lithium-ion batteries have a low rate of current decline than lead-acid batteries.

These batteries are safe as they have built-in protection from overheating. This protection is supplied by BMS.

3. What are the benefits of a 48V Li-ion battery?

The 48V lithium-ion batteries have taken the limelight and become the best choice in home energy systems and commercial use with the advancement in battery technology leading to a decrease in cost.

Some of the benefits of these batteries are given below:

High Energy Density

They have a very high energy density and supply more power.
Cell phones consume a lot of power in between the charging intervals and this power is provided by the high-energy batteries.
Similarly, electric vehicles also need more power to run which is supplied by high-energy lithium-ion batteries.

No Maintenance Requirement

The major benefit of these batteries is that they do not need an excessive amount of maintenance to run.

Nickel-Cadmium cells have periodic discharging requirements so that these cells do not show memory effect. Memory effect is not seen in lithium-ion batteries. Due to the memory effect the devices work at a lower capacity after partial charging and discharging.

Lead-acid batteries need to charge regularly while lithium-ion batteries are not affected by this problem.

These batteries do not need priming equipment for maintenance.

Performance

48V lithium-ion batteries are highly efficient. They offer high power to heavy-duty devices. The load characteristic of 48V lithium-ion batteries is about 3.6 volts per cell that is three times greater than Ni batteries.

These 48V lithium-ion batteries also have fast charging capability.

Self-Discharge

48V lithium-ion batteries offer the huge advantage of low self-discharge as compared to other batteries. Self-discharge rates of other batteries are quite high. 

Self-discharge of 48V lithium-ion batteries is a drop of 5% after charging in the first 4 hours.

Light in Weight

48V lithium-ion batteries are made up of lightweight electrodes (lithium and carbon). These batteries are small in size and lighter than other batteries.

24Ah Lead-acid batteries and 51Ah lithium-ion batteries are similar in weight. These lightweight batteries are used in headlights as they can provide high light output and run longer.

4. What are the cons of a 48V lithium-ion battery?

Besides their benefits, 48V lithium-ion batteries have several limitations. But the pros of 48V lithium-ion batteries outweigh their cons.

Some of the disadvantages are described below:

1.Cost

One of the main disadvantages of these batteries is their price. These batteries cost about 40% more than Ni-Cd batteries. The manufacturing cost of batteries is very high.

2.Aging

48V lithium-ion batteries have a huge disadvantage in aging. The electronics that use these batteries age quickly.

This aging effect depends upon time as well as the many charging cycles that the battery had.

48V lithium-ion batteries can usually undergo about 500-1000 discharging cycles after that their ability to charge decreases.

48V lithium-ion batteries aged despite their not being in use. To decrease their aging effect these batteries should be stored at a partially charged state. 

4.Temperature

48V lithium-ion batteries cannot perform well at too high or too low ambient temperatures. These batteries can get overheated at high temperatures.

5.Transportation

48V lithium-ion batteries have a limit on the number to be transported by the plane. So this means that majority of lithium-ion batteries are transported by ships. 48V lithium-ion batteries are not allowed in the check-in baggage, they are required to be carried in carry-on luggage. Also, these batteries must be protected by the covers from short circuits.

5. What are the safety hazards associated with 48V lithium-ion batteries?

These batteries are safe to use at workplaces if they are designed and used properly but if there are shortcomings in the design process and the quality of materials is compromised they may result in injury. 

The correct assembly of the batteries and proper recharging is also important for safe usage. Many overheating and fire incidents have been reported of 48V lithium-ion batteries causing fatal damage to human lives.

They can explode if they are charged too rapidly. Heat is produced at the negative electrode of the battery and oxygen at the positive electrode of the batteries. The combination of these two results in fire.

Causes of Fire
The 48V lithium-ion battery catches fire if
There are fluctuations in the temperature
They are overcharged.
Have a crash or mechanical injury Aging

To avoid fire accidents due to lithium-ion batteries research has been focused to discover non-flammable electrolytes.

Safety Precautions

Safety measures should be taken to prevent the explosion of lithium-ion batteries. These precautions are
Do not charge batteries below 0°C.
You must not overcharge the battery.
Use batteries with shut down separator if it overheats. Use batteries with a battery management system that protects the battery from deep drainage.

6. How long does a 48V lithium-ion battery last?

The life of the 48V lithium-ion battery is defined as the number of charging and discharging cycles until the batteries fail to charge anymore. This period involves both active use and storage time of the battery.

A charge cycle is defined as the period of batter usage from fully charged to fully discharge and then charging it once again. Every time the battery is recharged its battery life is compromised or decreased.

48V lithium-ion batteries undergo an aging process which means they tend to lose charge capacity over time. Usually, a 48V li-ion battery has a lifetime of two to three years.

In terms of charge cycles, it lasts for up to 300 to 500 charge cycles.

7. How do 48V lithium-ion batteries impact the environment?

Since the evolution of Li-ion batteries many energy problems have been resolved but solving the energy crisis has also a bitter outcome of negative impact on the environment. 

Lithium extraction from slat brines leads to the contamination of water surrounding the areas and increased salinity of soil that is in use by local communities.

In addition to mining lithium, chemicals are required for processing it. These toxic chemicals add to polluting the environment. People have raised concerns about polluting water in regions i.e. South America, China, and Europe where lithium mining is done.

Fish and wildlife in the area surrounding the mining region have been reported dead after consuming the polluted water from toxic chemicals.

Recycling

48V lithium-ion batteries are less toxic than other batteries so they are considered harmless wastes. These batteries are made up of iron, carbon, and copper. These metals are easily incinerated and recycled.

About less than 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled in 2019 as recycling is more expensive than mining.

But recycling of these batteries is increased in past years. It is possible to use metals such as lithium, aluminum, iron, and graphite recovered from the recycling of lithium-ion batteries on an industrial scale.

8. What are the different models of 48V lithium-ion batteries?

Several models of lithium-ions are available in the market. Some of the models are discussed below:

48V 200Ah Lithium-ion Battery
These batteries provide a 200 Ah electric charge and have an energy of 1024KWh. The discharge current is about 100 A and the charging current is 50 A.

These batteries are used in solar power generators. They have a large energy capacity so they are connected to photovoltaic cells. These batteries can easily supply power to the house during dark periods. These are also utilized in UPS systems.

48V 20Ah Lithium-ion Battery
This battery supplies about 20Ah and energy of 960 Wh. The charging current of this battery is 5A and provides discharging current of 40A.

This battery is used in e-bikes, robots, solar cells, and other applications that need a high-density battery.

48V 100Ah Lithium-ion Battery
This battery supplies about capacity or electric 100Ah and energy of 4746 Wh. The charging current of this battery is 50A and the discharge current threshold is 100A.
It has a lifetime of about 20 years.
This battery is used in telecom systems, off-grid energy telecommunication systems.

9. Why do volts matter? Difference between 48V and 36V lithium batteries?

Voltage is an important aspect of the working of electrical devices. Voltage measures how much power is flowing through any wire. 

Usually, the power cables coming from the power plant have large voltage. The amount of power or voltage flowing in the lines near houses is generally low. 

Voltage is set in the range so that the power system can work properly and avoid any accidents. If the voltage is very large then machines or instruments can get fired. 

High voltage batteries can power heavy-duty applications while low voltage batteries can power small devices such as laptops, etc

48V lithium-ion batteries are essential for powering many types of equipment. 36V and 48V lithium-ion batteries are widely used in the market.

Both batteries have the same functions but they are some differences in both these batteries. A few dissimilarities between 36V and 48V lithium-ion batteries are discussed below:

Power/Torque

48V lithium-ion batteries have high power and torque. This allows the vehicle to accelerate faster. The vehicles that use 48V lithium-ion batteries are good for moving uphill. The 48V vehicles pick a speed in less time due to having high torque. Whereas, 36V lithium-ion batteries draw lesser current and have lesser power than 48V lithium-ion batteries.

Ampere

48V lithium-ion batteries draw less ampere current in comparison to 36 V lithium-ion batteries. There is high stress on the cells in 36V batteries because the device needs more current for the same quantity of power. The stress results in the battery becoming hotter which impacts the efficiency.

Weight

48V lithium-ion batteries are heavier than 36V batteries and this increases the range of 48V batteries.

Price

36V batteries are less expensive than 48V lithium-ion batteries. It is less costly to repair the 36V batteries.

10. What is the estimated price for a 48V lithium-ion battery?

The price of a 48V lithium-ion battery depends upon its model and its manufacturer. If the 48V lithium-ion battery gives a high electric charge then it has a high price. These battery packs were a lot pricier about ten years ago. 

The price of the 48V lithium-ion battery pack in 2010 was US$1,183 per kilowatt-hour 2010 and in 2019 the price of the same battery was US$156 per kilowatt-hour. It had been predicted that the cost of these batteries will decrease further in 2024 and will drop down to US$100/kWh.

Currently, the price of a 48V lithium-ion battery is US$146/ kWh.

This drop-in cost of lithium-ion batteries is due to the increased production of these batteries.

The price of a 48V 200Ah lithium-ion battery is US$1500-2000.
The cost of a 48V 100Ah lithium-ion battery is US$800-1200.
US$700-800 is the cost of a 48V 75Ah lithium-ion battery.
Purchasing cost of a 48V 50 Ah lithium-ion battery is US$500-600.

11. What are the different types of 48v lithium-ion batteries based on their application?

48V lithium-ion batteries have diverse ranging applications. They are used in several fields like transportation, hybrid energy systems, laptops, cell phones, etc.

Golf Carts

48V lithium-ion battery golf carts are extremely fast due to having high torque. These golf carts can easily move uphill and in rough terrains.

E-Bikes

Modern e-bikes use 48V lithium-ion battery. These provide high velocity. These e-bikes can go to a speed of 20mph or 3 km/h.

Marine Application

48V lithium-ion marine boats batteries are very safe to use in a yacht or a small motorboat. These batteries can supply the energy for running a marine boat. These rechargeable batteries provide long life to marine boats.

Mobility Equipment

These batteries are lightweight and used in different walking aid equipment such as wheelchairs and stairwells. These modern lithium-ion batteries made life easy for people who have difficulty walking.
You do not need to worry about mixing water and electricity in these batteries.

UPS System

Home energy storage in multiple ways is the most prominent application of 48V lithium-ion batteries. Home energy storage includes storage devices installed in residential houses. 48V lithium-ion batteries have backup systems if you run out of power. Unlike other emergency steps, lithium-ion batteries provide power immediately on power shut down.

Solar Systems

48V lithium-ion batteries have an important role in the power system. Sometimes you do not get enough sunlight to charge your solar device. That is where lithium-ion batteries play an important role.

With the use of 48V lithium-ion batteries, you avoid dark periods. 48V lithium-ion batteries are a good match for your solar devices as solar devices produce less resistance which is required by them.

Gadgets

These batteries are very popular in charging our batteries like mobiles, laptops, and computers. These batteries are light and are easy to carry. These portable devices can resist movement and temperature changes because of this they are safe to use. These batteries charge very rapidly. 

Alarm Systems

If you need to secure your home, job sites and your vehicles then use a 48V lithium-ion battery in the alarm systems. With these batteries, you can easily monitor remote and temporary locations.
If your alarm system is inactive for some time, these batteries do not lose a lot of power. Due to this, these batteries can last longer.