The LiFePO4 accumulator as a replacement for the car starter battery
Information on lithium-based battery technology as a replacement for the conventional heavy lead-acid car battery (Pb / AGM / VRLA):
What is a lithium iron phosphate battery?
The LiFePO4 or LFP rechargeable battery is a further development of the lithium-ion rechargeable battery in which the conventional lithium cobalt oxide cathode has been replaced by a lithium iron phosphate cathode.
It is characterized by high charging and discharging currents, very good temperature stability and a long service life:
What are the advantages of LiFePO4 cells over LiPO batteries in cell phones & laptops?
- No fire hazard, as intrinsically safe
- Largely insensitive to mechanical stress, deep discharge & overcharging
- Very high charging / discharging currents possible
- Significantly more charge / discharge cycles possible
- less sensitive at low / high temperatures
Why does a small, lightweight battery replace my large, heavy starter battery?
Almost the entire stored energy can be extracted from LiFePO4 cells, compared to 30-35% for conventional lead-based starter batteries, depending on the quality.
Due to the degressive voltage characteristic during discharge, there is no longer enough energy available to start the vehicle very early on. The voltage characteristic curve of the LiFePO4 cells, on the other hand, remains almost constant >13V throughout the entire discharge process, which enables reproducible power extraction.
Practical examples:
1.) from our smallest LITE↯BLOX LB12XX 150W of power (equivalent to front + rear headlights) can be drawn for ~30min and the vehicle will still start perfectly afterwards.
2) a comparatively small 2.0L turbo engine can be started >30x in succession with the LITE↯BLOX LB12XX (fully charged / cold engine @ RT).
What does "Pb-eq" stand for in the technical data?
Our LITE↯BLOX are pure starter batteries in which - in contrast to deep-cycle or storage batteries - only a fraction of the capacity is effectively used as intended. In order to be able to compare our products with the usual characteristic values of a lead-based starter battery (see above), we therefore always state a lead equivalent (Pb-eq) increased by a factor of 1.5 to 2 for the nominal capacity in the technical data.
Why invest more than in a lead-based starter battery?
LiFePO4 cells are currently still associated with high costs, but have a clear technological advantage over the classic car starter battery in almost all relevant respects and the increased investment is partially amortized by the increased service life (3-5 times longer):
Can I alternatively use a cheap "no-name" Li-battery in the vehicle?
If you buy cheap, you usually buy twice & this doesn't just apply to the "no-name" battery at the supermarket checkout...
Consistently developed as a starter battery for combustion engines according to the principle of "quality over quantity", the LITE↯BLOX offers numerous Advantages over current competitor products.
They are equipped with the most powerful LiFePO4 cells currently available and have been specially developed for use in the automotive sector.
Will a LiFePO4 battery be permanently damaged by a deep discharge?
If a lithium-based battery cell is stored over a longer period of time with a deep discharge, the cell chemistry changes permanently, resulting in a reduced service life - in the worst case even damage to the cells (internal short circuit).
Our laboratory tests - confirmed by years of data collection in the field - show that the premium rechargeable battery cells we use only experience barely measurable impairments if the LITE↯BLOX is charged a) promptly and b) with reduced current (max. 1.5A) or with our charger.
How do LiFePO4 batteries behave in heat?
According to the manufacturer, the LithiumWerks (formerly A123 Systems) battery cells we use have an operating range of -30° to +55°C, but age significantly faster the more often they are exposed to extreme heat or cold.
Through our Innovative housing concept in CFRP on technical foam, the battery itself is largely thermally and mechanically decoupled and, unlike competitor products, can therefore also be used permanently in the engine compartment without losing performance.
Note: The service life of a rechargeable battery decreases with the ambient temperature for chemical reasons, so it is recommended that the LITE↯BLOX is mounted in a place in the vehicle that is protected from direct heat radiation.
How do LiFePO4 batteries behave in the cold?
In contrast to lead-acid batteries, lithium-iron batteries generate their own heat field under load, so that they also Start reliably at low temperatures. If the LITE↯BLOX is also to be used in the winter season, it is therefore advisable to activate all electrical consumers in the vehicle before starting the engine in order to bring the battery cells up to operating temperature.
Note: For chemical reasons, each accumulator can deliver less power as the temperature drops, and the vehicle then requires more starter power to start (as the oil is more viscous, etc.), so we recommend planning a LITE↯BLOX model with sufficient reserves for year-round use.
If the above points are taken into account when using them, the service life of our LITE↯BLOX batteries is 3-5 times longer than that of conventional lead-based starter batteries (on average 4 years according to the German Automobile Association ADAC).
All information to the best of our knowledge and belief - without guarantee (subject to change).
Failure to comply with the above points may invalidate the warranty.
