Recently, the independent degradation test of commercial lithium batteries revealed a big surprise! Contrary to the claims of many NMC based lithium battery manufacturers, LFP has superior chemical properties compared with NMC - it is safer, longer service life and cheaper than NMC and NCA. Among all types of lithium-ion batteries, two are the best choice for forklifts and other forklifts: lithium iron phosphate or lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC).
LFP battery has the longest chemical reaction time. NMC is a relatively new technology, however, it does not always translate into a generally better technology. In electric vehicles (EVS) such as cars and trucks, it is usually the first choice because of its lighter overall weight and higher energy density per kilogram. However, LFP batteries are common in storage environments where extreme ambient temperatures may occur and weight is not a problem. On the contrary, it may be a more favorable choice.
Lead acid forklift battery
We can't compare with lead-acid chemistry because it is still a popular technology in the field of forklift. Lead acid battery is a wet battery, and electric energy is produced by the interaction between liquid chemicals and lead. Lead is converted into lead sulfate by chemical reaction with acid. When connected to a load (forklift), the electrons pass through it to balance the electrons. Simply put, the battery is "discharged", and charging the battery will reverse the process.
Although lead-acid batteries have been used for the longest time, there are also some inherent defects. For example, they do have a limited number of charging cycles, about 1500. However, this also means that one cycle will be used up each time the battery is charged. When the battery is exhausted, the battery should be avoided at 20% to 30% of its capacity. Charging when the capacity is less than 20% will damage the battery and elevator. Charging more frequently, such as more than 60%, is a waste of electricity. The battery life will be shortened.
Compared with lead-acid batteries, NMC and LFP lithium-ion batteries have longer overall life and significantly higher charge discharge cycles. Unlike lead acid, lithium ion chemistry flourishes due to frequent charging. Their service life is increased by the opportunity to charge during breaks and lunches.
The final idea of battery chemistry selection
When choosing the right battery for your operation, you should not only consider the initial cost, but also the total cost of ownership during the battery life. You should also consider the safer operation and life of lithium ion chemistry. From the point of view of operating efficiency and increased safety factor provided, batteries with lithium ion chemical composition are more meaningful.
LFP and NMC lithium battery chemistry: charging rate
There is another major difference between LFP and NMC, which is usually used as a selling point for material handling. NMC lithium ion batteries are sometimes charged at a higher and faster rate, usually compared with LFP using 0 to 100% charging cycle. However, there is a trade-off. To do this, cables and connectors must be reinforced because the process produces higher temperatures. In addition, individual batteries must be insulated from each other to contain and dissipate heat. This is usually done using ceramic shielding, which increases the cost of the battery unit.
LFP lithium ion batteries are usually charged at a lower rate, usually up to 1.5 C. However, they can be equipped with dual plugs to double the charging rate while still maintaining a low charging temperature. The current consumption during charging is generally low, which may translate into safer charging.
The performance of LFP battery is better than the old lead-acid battery with low safety and low efficiency. The same is true of NMC. However, when the total cost of ownership of forklift batteries is a driving factor, LFP may be a better choice.
