Generally, What are Lithium-Ion Batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries where lithium ions move between the anode and cathode during charging and discharging. They are popular for consumer electronics due to their high energy density, absence of memory effect, and slow loss of charge when idle. Himax Battery primarily focuses on designing, manufacturing, and marketing LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries for both starter and deep cycle applications.
Features of Ionic Lithium-Ion Deep Cycle Batteries:
- Lightweight: Up to 80% less than a conventional, comparable energy storage lead-acid battery.
- Lasts Longer: 300-400% longer than lead-acid, with an expected 8-10 years of battery life.
- Lower Self-Discharge Rate: Less than 3% per month (compared to 5-8% for lead-acid).
- Drop-in Replacement: Designed for seamless integration as a drop-in replacement for your OEM battery.
- Enhanced Safety: No explosive gases during charging, no acid spills, ensuring safe operation.
- Environmentally Friendly: Contains no lead or heavy metals, making it an truly eco-friendly lithium iron phosphate battery.
What are LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) Batteries?
LiFePO4 batteries offer several advantages over traditional LiCoO2-based Lithium-ion batteries. They provide much higher specific capacity, superior thermal and chemical stability, enhanced safety, improved cost performance, faster charge and discharge rates, enhanced cycle life, all in a compact, lightweight package. LiFePO4 batteries can offer a cycle life of over 2,000 charge cycles, making them one of the most durable and reliable battery types available.
Why Choose Himax Electronics’s Lithium-Ion “Deep Cycle” Energy Storage Battery?
Our lithium-ion batteries offer multiple advantages over standard lead-acid batteries for energy storage:
- Substantially Lighter: Just a fraction of the weight of original lead-acid batteries.
- More Powerful: Operate at a higher voltage, providing consistent power output even when battery capacity is low. They maintain over 12.8V even with only 20% capacity remaining.
- Low Self-Discharge Rate: Lose less than 3% charge per month, allowing for extended storage without worry.
- Environmentally Friendly: Himax batteries contain no toxic substances like poisonous lead or corrosive sulfuric acid, eliminating the risk of explosive gassing events common with lead-acid batteries. No acid level maintenance or venting required.
- Long Lasting: Himax lithium-ion batteries provide 8-10 years of use, easily exceeding the life of any lead-acid battery, offering significant long-term cost savings.
- Fast Recharging: Can accept charge current up to 5 times faster than lead-acid batteries, with a charge efficiency of about 97% (compared to 75% for lead-acid), reducing charging time and strain on your alternator.
What Advantages Does Himax Electronics’s “Deep Cycle Batteries” Have Over Other Batteries?
Himax utilizes the latest advancements in lithium-ion battery technology along with custom features to provide you with the best battery for your application:
- Internal Cell Balancing Circuit: Himax batteries feature a micro-processor controlled internal cell balancing board designed to maximize the performance of each cell.
- Battery Management System (BMS): Himax lithium-ion smart batteries incorporate a solid-state switch that controls temperature volatility, preventing overcharging and discharging, thus improving overall lifespan, performance, and safety.
- Quality Engineering: Himax’s innovation laboratory prides itself on the design and construction of its batteries, utilizing the highest quality components at all stages. The Himax built-in intelligent components guarantee the safety and quality of each product.
- Prismatic Cells: Unlike cylindrical cells with limited shapes and sizes, Himax’s prismatic cells are rectangular packages that can be freely designed and sized according to specific battery case requirements. This allows for a perfect drop-in fit in most applications and offers superior thermal management properties.
How Does Himax’s Electronics’s “Deep Cycle” Capacity (Ah) Rating Compare to Lead-Acid Ah Ratings?
Himax Electronics’s “Deep Cycle” batteries have a true lithium capacity rating at a 1C discharge rate, meaning a 12Ah “Deep Cycle” lithium-ion battery can provide 12A for 1 hour. In contrast, most lead-acid batteries have a 20hr or 25hr rating printed for their Ah capacity, meaning the same 12Ah lead-acid battery discharging in 1 hour would typically only provide about 6Ah of usable energy. Himax’s lithium-ion batteries have 1/3 the internal resistance of a similar capacity lead-acid battery and can be safely discharged to 90% DOD. This means a 12Ah lithium battery will perform closer to a 48Ah lead-acid battery rating for higher discharge currents and life performance.
