8. Maintenance Requirements
- Flooded Lead-Acid (FLA): Requires regular maintenance, including checking and refilling water levels to maintain electrolyte balance. Improper maintenance can lead to reduced battery life or failure.
- Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA): Maintenance-free, but still susceptible to sulfation (the buildup of lead sulfate crystals), which reduces the battery’s ability to hold a charge if left in a discharged state for long periods.
9. Performance in Cold Weather
- Cold Sensitivity: Lead-acid batteries perform poorly in cold temperatures. In colder climates, their ability to deliver power is reduced, and their range drops significantly compared to normal operating temperatures.
- Battery Degradation: Exposure to extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) can accelerate battery degradation and reduce its lifespan.
10. Lower Efficiency
- Charge/Discharge Efficiency: Lead-acid batteries are less efficient than lithium-ion batteries, with energy efficiency typically around 70-85%. This means more energy is lost during charging and discharging processes.
- Power Loss: The lower efficiency can result in less usable power from the battery, reducing the overall range and performance of the vehicle.
11. Environmental Impact
- Recyclability: One of the main advantages of lead-acid batteries is that they are highly recyclable. The materials used in lead-acid batteries (lead and sulfuric acid) can be easily recycled, with recycling rates of around 90-95%.
- Toxic Components: Lead-acid batteries contain toxic materials like lead and sulfuric acid, which pose environmental hazards if not disposed of or recycled properly. Handling these materials requires special care to prevent environmental contamination.
12. Discharge Characteristics
- Flat Voltage Profile: Lead-acid batteries maintain a relatively stable voltage output during discharge but experience a significant drop in voltage when nearing full depletion.
- Shallow Discharge Cycles: Lead-acid batteries are less tolerant of deep discharge cycles, meaning they should not be fully discharged regularly. Deep discharges can lead to reduced lifespan and capacity loss.
13. Safety
- Robust and Durable: Lead-acid batteries are generally robust and less sensitive to physical damage compared to lithium-ion batteries. This makes them relatively safe for use, though care must be taken to avoid overcharging and overheating.
- Risk of Spillage: Flooded lead-acid batteries contain liquid electrolytes (sulfuric acid), which pose a risk of spillage if the battery is damaged or improperly handled. Sealed lead-acid batteries eliminate this risk.
14. Lower Power Output
- Lower Peak Power: Lead-acid batteries typically provide lower peak power compared to lithium-ion batteries, which limits acceleration and overall performance in high-demand scenarios, such as climbing steep hills.
- Limited Use in High-Performance EVs: Due to their lower power output, lead-acid batteries are generally found in lower-speed or short-range two-wheeled EVs.
