Electric vehicles are classified by voltage into 48 volts, 60 volts, 72 volts and above. 80% of electric vehicles on the market are equipped with traditional lead-acid batteries, which have the advantages of mature technology, safe use, and recyclable recycling. However, the disadvantages of large size, poor low temperature resistance, long charging time and short service life also trouble users.

As the pace of life accelerates and people's activities expand, lead-acid batteries can no longer meet the needs of some people. For example, couriers have replaced their batteries with lightweight, high-energy-density lithium batteries, and people who travel long distances have also installed large-capacity lithium batteries. So how much does it cost to install lithium batteries in 48-volt, 60-volt, and 72-volt electric vehicles? Is it cost-effective? Please see the detailed analysis.

Introduction to lithium batteries: Lithium batteries are a type of battery that uses lithium metal or lithium alloy as the negative electrode material and uses a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. Currently, the most commonly used is the ternary lithium battery. The full name of the ternary lithium battery is ternary polymer lithium battery, which refers to a lithium battery whose positive electrode material uses ternary materials such as lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide.

What are the advantages of ternary lithium batteries?

Light weight : Taking the common 60V 40A ternary lithium battery as an example, the weight is about 16 kg, and the 60V 38A lead-acid battery weighs 53 kg. The weight of the lead-acid battery is 3.3 times that of the ternary lithium battery.

Why are ternary lithium batteries so light? First of all, the positive electrode material of ternary batteries is nickel, cobalt and manganese. Compared with lead-acid batteries, this material is lighter in weight at the same volume and can store more electrical energy. It is lighter in weight when providing the same amount of electricity.

Secondly, the voltage of a ternary lithium battery is 3.7 volts, which is much higher than the voltage of a lead-acid battery of 2 volts. Therefore, the number of ternary lithium battery strings with the same number of voltages is reduced and the weight is reduced. In addition, during the manufacturing and design process, ternary lithium batteries can adopt a more compact and efficient internal structure, which makes the internal volume of the battery highly utilized, further reducing the volume and weight of the battery.

High energy density : The energy density of ternary lithium batteries is usually 180-230Wh/kg, while the energy density of lead-acid batteries is usually 30-50Wh/kg. The energy density of ternary lithium batteries is 6 times that of ordinary lead-acid batteries, which means that the energy stored in the same volume is 6 times higher than that of lead-acid batteries, allowing electric vehicles to have a longer range.

Why do ternary lithium batteries have high energy density? First of all, their positive electrodes use ternary materials such as nickel cobalt manganese oxide or nickel cobalt aluminum oxide. Nickel has a higher redox potential, which allows the battery to operate at a higher voltage, increasing the battery's storage capacity and thus increasing energy density. In addition, by adjusting the ratio of nickel, cobalt, and manganese (or aluminum), a better balance can be achieved in terms of energy density, cycle life, safety, etc., further improving energy density.

Secondly, the operating voltage of a single cell of a ternary lithium battery is as high as 3.7V, which is higher than the voltage of traditional batteries such as lead-acid batteries. When forming a battery pack of the same voltage, the number of batteries required to be connected in series is small, which reduces the weight and volume of the battery shell and connecting parts, thereby improving the overall energy density. At the same time, the electrode structure and battery packaging method are optimized to make the internal space utilization more efficient, fill more active materials in the same volume, and increase the battery's energy storage capacity.

Fast charging speed: Taking a 60V 40A ternary lithium battery as an example, it only takes 1.5 to 2 hours to fully charge the battery if fast charging is used. The charging time of a 60V 38A lead-acid battery is as long as 8 to 10 hours. The fast charging of a ternary lithium battery shortens the charging time by 6 hours compared to a lead-acid battery, effectively saving users’ waiting time for charging and improving work efficiency. It is especially suitable for workers who travel long distances, deliver takeouts, and deliver express deliveries.

Why do ternary lithium batteries charge quickly? First, the positive electrode material is nickel cobalt manganese oxide or nickel cobalt aluminum oxide. The nickel element allows the battery to operate at a higher voltage and accept a larger charging current, thereby speeding up the charging speed. At the same time, during the charging process, the speed at which lithium ions are removed from the positive electrode and embedded in the negative electrode is relatively fast. The electrode material can quickly accept and release lithium ions, which improves the charging efficiency.

Secondly, the working voltage of a single cell is as high as 3.7V, and the number of batteries required to be connected in series to form a battery pack is small, which can reduce the time for the battery management system to balance the voltage and current of each battery, making the overall charging speed faster. At the same time, thin battery separators and new electrolytes are used to reduce the internal resistance of the battery and reduce energy loss during charging. At the same time, the electrode structure and packaging method are optimized to improve the utilization of internal space, which is conducive to the rapid migration of lithium ions and shortens the charging time.

Long service life: The average number of charge and discharge cycles of ternary lithium batteries is about 1000-1200 times, and the service life is 5-6 years. Ordinary lead-acid batteries can be charged and discharged 350 times, and the service life is one and a half years. The service life of ternary lithium batteries is 3-4 times that of lead-acid batteries.

Why do ternary lithium batteries have a long service life? First of all, the use of high-purity, high-performance positive electrode materials, such as lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, and advanced synthesis processes can make the battery's crystal structure more stable and the electrode material more reversible during the charge and discharge process, thereby increasing the number of charge and discharge cycles.

Secondly, optimizing the electrolyte formula and diaphragm performance of the battery will help improve the battery's cycle performance. High-performance electrolyte can enhance ion conductivity and reduce battery internal resistance; high-quality diaphragms can effectively prevent short circuits between positive and negative electrodes, improving battery safety and cycle stability.

How much does it cost to install lithium batteries in 48V, 60V, and 72V electric vehicles?

How much does it cost to install a lithium battery in a 48-volt electric vehicle?

A good quality ternary lithium battery with 48V 12A costs about 500 yuan, a 48V 20A costs 800 yuan, a 48V 24A costs 1180 yuan, a 48V 35A costs 1450 yuan, a 48V 50A costs 1750 yuan, a 48V 65A costs 2100 yuan, and a 48V 90A costs 3300 yuan.

How much does it cost to install a lithium battery in a 60-volt electric vehicle?

The commonly used ternary lithium battery models for 60-volt electric vehicles are 60-volt 20 amps for 1,100 yuan, 60-volt 30 amps for 1,740 yuan, 60-volt 40 amps for 2,300 yuan, 60-volt 60 amps for 2,630 yuan, and 60-volt 80 amps for 3,500 yuan.

How much does it cost to install a lithium battery in a 72-volt electric vehicle?

The commonly used ternary lithium battery models for 72V electric vehicles are 72V 20A for 1310 yuan, 72V 30A for 1950 yuan, 72V 40A for 2500 yuan, 72V 60A for 2980 yuan, and 72V 80A for 3950 yuan.

Is it cost-effective to install lithium batteries in 48V, 60V, and 72V electric vehicles?

The most commonly used 48-volt electric vehicle is the 23-A graphene battery, which is made up of four 12-volt 23-A batteries connected in series. The new purchase price is 740 yuan, the service life is about 3 years, and the annual battery cost is 280 yuan. The most commonly used 48-volt electric vehicle is the 24-A ternary lithium battery, which has a new purchase price of about 1,200 yuan, the battery can be used for 6 years, and the annual battery cost is about 200 yuan.

If a 60-volt electric vehicle is equipped with a 38-ampere graphene battery, the purchase price of a new battery is about 1,600 yuan, the battery life is about three years, and the annual battery cost is about 533 yuan. If a 60-volt electric vehicle is equipped with a 40-ampere ternary lithium battery, the price is 2,300 yuan, the battery life is calculated as 6 years, and the annual battery cost is 383 yuan.

For example, if a 72-volt electric vehicle is equipped with a 38-ampere graphene battery, the purchase price of a new battery is 1,950 yuan, the battery life is three years, and the annual battery cost is 640 yuan. If a 72-volt electric vehicle is equipped with a 40-ampere ternary lithium battery, the price is 2,500 yuan, the battery life is calculated as 6 years, and the annual battery cost is 416 yuan.

Based on the above comprehensive analysis, it is concluded that it is more cost-effective to install ternary lithium batteries in electric vehicles than lead-acid batteries, but there is one issue that everyone needs to consider clearly: the most important issue when using electric vehicles is battery safety. If you are concerned about lithium battery safety, when you watch short videos, the platform may recommend you battery fire and explosion incidents, and the culprit behind them is ternary lithium batteries.

The ternary lithium battery installed in electric vehicles is not installed firmly, the battery is overcharged, over-discharged, there is a problem with the battery management system, the battery is damaged by impact, and the battery pack is flooded, which may cause internal short circuits in the battery, leading to thermal runaway and eventually fire. Although lead-acid batteries are expensive to use and need to be replaced frequently, they will not explode or catch fire when overcharged or over-discharged, and are safer.

Summary of the state of mind

Through the above comparative analysis, if the new electric car you buy is equipped with a ternary lithium battery, then the comprehensive cost of using the car is indeed more cost-effective than a lead-acid battery. But if your electric car uses an ordinary lead-acid battery and wants to replace it with a lithium battery, I personally do not recommend replacing it. Why? For example, the price of a 48V 40A ternary lithium battery is 1,450 yuan, the price of a 60V 40A ternary lithium battery is 2,300 yuan, and the price of a 72V 40A ternary lithium battery is 2,500 yuan. You can buy a very good lead-acid battery electric car at this price.

If you want to replace a lead-acid battery electric vehicle with a lithium battery, you need to purchase additional ternary lithium batteries, replace the controller, replace the charger, add a protection board, and pay the maintenance technician's labor fees. This is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also poses a fire hazard. At the same time, it is illegal to modify the vehicle. If you mainly ride short distances to get to and from get off work, then it is recommended to buy a lead-acid battery electric vehicle because it is safer to use.

If you are going on a long-distance motorcycle trip, or using an electric car to deliver food or express delivery, it is more cost-effective to buy a lithium battery model. Since ternary lithium batteries are flammable and explosive, you must read the instructions carefully after purchasing an electric car, and charge and discharge the battery correctly according to the requirements in the instructions to ensure the safe use of the lithium battery. When buying an electric car, you can weigh the pros and cons according to your own needs and choose an electric car battery that suits you.

Text by Jingxin, first published on Toutiao, automatic rights protection across the entire network has been opened. It is strictly forbidden to use AI to plagiarize or re-create articles, and infringements will be investigated!