Lithium ion batteries! 🔋

One of the technologies I’m continuing to watch is Lithium Ion (LiON) batteries for off-grid applications. Currently mostly used in high end installations, I expect within a decade it will become the go to technology for most off-grid properties. LiON batteries aren’t a miracle technology but they’re a steady evolution in the world of deep cycle batteries. They are generally lighter than lead acid batteries, store more energy, and require less energy. But they’re currently still a significant price over lead acid.

Lead acid deep cycle technology is a 120 year old technology that is proven and has seen small improvements that have added up over the decades. But the technology has its limits – its easily abused and damaged, it requires a fair share of maintenance. Traditional lead acid batteries batteries can be cycled deeper then starting batteries but they are easily destroyed if they are over discharged, warping their internal plates and changing their internal chemistry with sulfur building up on their plates to so they can’t be fully recharged. They also produce explosive hydrogen gas when being charged and regularly have to be topped off with distilled water and sometimes require additional acid and cleaning of battery terminals from sulfuric acid that builds up on them. They can last as long as a decade and are almost completely recycled when returned for the core charge.

Lead acid is a technology that has long been the standard like florescent lighting but is quickly becoming obsolete. LiON batteries don’t produce explosive gas, don’t require additional water or regular cleaning of the battery terminals. They can safely cycled to a much lower discharge level, have intelligent integrated battery control and are much lighter. But they are still a much newer technology and still expensive and novel. Come another decade, much is expected to change.

The truth is while off-grid technologies are a lot more advanced than a decade ago there is a lot more improvement and technological improvement that is certain to happen in the next decade. The push for electric cars and more renewables is only going to push the price of solar panels and LiON batteries down and make them more efficient. Microcontrollers are becoming more efficient and smarter at driving IGBTs and better at moving and switching power appropriately. The next generation, when I’m ready to make the leap should be mature and quite reliable if used within the parameters of the equipment.

Check out this video of Raspberry Rock and his new LIFEPO4 powerwall …