Comparison of Performance Attributes of a Typical Lithium Battery Compare to a Lead Acid Battery
Source: Compilation of information on RELiON and Allied websites
Performance Metric
Lifetime cycles
Maintenance
Self-discharge rate
Maximum usage
(measured as % of full
battery charge)
Lead Acid
500-750 cycles
Need to monitor
discharge limit—
usually 50%
Typically 1/3 t0 ½
of the battery will
discharge in 30-40
day period
Should not go
below 50% of full
charge
Lithium
3500-5000+ cycles Lithium Advantage
6-10 times longer life
No maintenance
required Much easier to maintain and to store
Only 2%-4% of the
battery will dis-
charge in a 30-40
day period. Storage over the winter or any signifi-
cant non-use period does not present
a problem with a lithium battery.
Can use 100% of
full charge Much more flexible with regard to
usage
Charge time 8-10 hours 2-3 hours Much reduced time to achieve full
charge, plus lithium can be effectively
charged from complete discharge e.
Makes opportunity charging much
more feasible
Weight (equivalent
power output) 350+ lbs. 70-75 lbs. Significantly less total vehicle weight,
which adds to distance on a charge.
Market acceptance: The key factor
in lithium battery market growth competition, has a common interest
in seeing the market grow3.
Demonstrably better performance
metrics for lithium will be, early-on,
mostly “on paper”, and the real test
of superiority will come from the
experiences of actual users. As
noted above, you will have internet
access to the comments by the early
adopters, and every new product
has them. They pave the way for the
more reserved, show-me followers. You could put it this way, for mar-
ket take-off and early accelerated
growth, the necessary condition will
be superior performance metrics,
as confirmed by the earl adopters,
while the sufficient condition will be
general market acceptance, fueled
the much larger body of consumers
that follow.
And, I believe the followers will
be there, the result of their own
research, complemented by objec-
tive, educational promotions and
advertising. In this case the key
manufacturers, Club Car, E-Z-GO,
and Yamaha, all have every incen-
tive to tout lithium because the
technology will clearly energize the
PTV market, which is now their main
revenue source, displacing fleet golf
cars. Of course, the battery man-
ufacturers will be promoting their
product via YouTube, webinars, and
other means. At this stage of market
development each battery manu-
facturer, despite the fact they are in
Transition to the urban mobility
market
Lithium power will open up a new
market for small vehicles, electric
powered bikes, scooter, and shut-
tles, in urban and suburban environ-
ments. I have introduced readers
to several of these small vehicles
in past articles. Here is another
entrant, and it would indeed, fit well
in the urban mobility testing ground
that is our gated community and its
environs.
It comes from the Netherlands, is
aimed directly at the urban mobil-
ity market, and is called the Squad.
Here is what my cohort, Marc
Cesare at Small Vehicle Resource,
has to say about this new market
entrant:
“Netherlands based Squad Mobility
launched their Squad urban mobility
vehicle last week. The electric pow-
ered Squad features solar cells on
the roof, seating for two and a small,
rear cargo area. The name Squad is
short for solar quadricycle.
“The vehicle is designed for the
European market and falls under the
L6e or light quadricycle category.
These vehicles are similar to low
speed vehicles in the US. They can’t
exceed 28 mph or have a battery
pack larger than 4 kWh. The L7e
category includes heavier vehicles
with a top speed up to 50 mph and a
15 kWh battery pack limit. The vehi-
cles have proven to be popular with
teenagers and older drivers.”
Perhaps designed for the European
market, but I would sure like to see
them exhibit at the 2020 PGA Show.
JANUARY 2020
27