Liacon introduces new 12V Group 31 LFP battery with a 4000+ cycle life
20 May 2023
Germany-based Liacon, one of Europe’s largest battery manufacturers, has released a new, more versatile lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery that can replace all Group 31 lead-acid units.
Group 31 batteries are one of the highest selling in the market. Delivery fleets, marine vessels, recreational vehicles, renewable energy storage, and construction equipment all use this standard. Lead acid batteries typically get 200-400 cycles before they fail. In comparison our lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries have ten times the life, cycling over 4,000 times.
—Philip M. Meek, CEO of Liacon
The new Group 31 LFP 12.8V 150 Ah battery has two to three times the energy of a lead-acid battery, and 1,000 cranking amps for starting heavy duty diesel engines.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries with oxide based chemistries, Liacon’s does not contain expensive and rare heavy metals, such as cobalt and nickel, nor does it contain lead, which is toxic to the environment.
The LFP battery’s energy storage capacity is superior to typical lead acid units, and its stable discharge curve mitigates damage to sensitive electronics. Group 31 lead acid charging infrastructure doesn’t need to change.
I wonder could you build a home energy storage system from say 5-10 of these? (I mean - what extra electronics would you need to do this..)
And how much do they individually cost?
Posted by: mahonj | 21 May 2023 at 06:21 AM
Yes, you could easily build a home energy storage system with these. The question is are these the best, most cost effective batteries to use.
There are many suppliers of 12v drop in replacement batteries on the market.
I’m using 9 of them to “electrify” my Aistream, entirely replacing the propane system with electric only appliances that can run on (variously) 12, 24, 48 DC or 120v AC current.
The reason for the various DC voltages is because some appliances are most readily available is certain voltages. Some high kW loads are best at higher voltages (12v appliances consuming a lot of power need huge copper cables).
A lot of modern electronics will accept 12v, and conductor size is not an issue.
A Powerwall would be great but they are a bit pricey and electricians authorized to install them will only put them in “normal” residences. they are not tested or certified for mobile applications.
Combine with my Ford Lightning, which has a 130 kWh battery, and a modest solar array, I could be off grid for weeks or months at a time. My water/waste tanks (~25 gallon x 3) will be much more of a limitation than power now.
The power will be managed with some interesting electronic gear.
I’ll be driving all over the US within a few months, anyone is welcome to PM me to see when I’ll be in your region. Would be happy to meet in person and show the system and the economic of going electric vs gas (propane or NG).
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 21 May 2023 at 10:22 PM
@mahonj,
you shouldn't use several Li-ion or Lifepo4 12v batteries in a pack, because:
- If you put them in series, you can't balance the cells. Each 12v pack has its own BMS, but you need all the cells in series to be balanced the same.
- If you put them parallel an one cell in a 12v pack gets unbalanced, the rest of the cells in the same pack could be overcharged frequently.
Posted by: peskanov | 22 May 2023 at 01:42 AM
@ peskanov:
First of all it depends on the switching mode incorporated on the individual battery itself; is it cell to module to pack or is it as applicable to LFPs - stack to pack. Independent of the applicable chemistry it is more so a question of the employed tech. platform. I would take for granted that the battery in question has a BMS integrated within itself. In that case the adverse effect on a individual cell would be negligible as overcharging of an individual cell would be avoided.
Posted by: yoatmon | 22 May 2023 at 06:49 AM
Agree with Yoatman . The individual BMS keeps t
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 22 May 2023 at 06:55 AM
The individual BMS in each 12v module keeps its cells within the high / low range. You can also have a BMS at the white pack level, managing charging to individual 12v modules.
The limitation is that most of the BMSs can not handle putting more than four 12 batteries in series, limiting your system voltage to 48v.
You can find or order 12v drop-in batteries that have more robust BMSs that can be wired up to 72 or 96v
Older GEM vehicles, for example, run at 72v.
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 22 May 2023 at 07:09 AM
I am not suggesting anyone build their own home pack unless that have *or gain* the requisite skills.
There are hundreds of videos on YouTube showing how people have done it and teaching the necessary skills.
Learning this stuff can be fun, and it’s a great skill set to have.
In most cases, having your work supervised/reviewed by a qualified electrician and permitted is a legal requirement, as well as common sense.
Make safety a leading requirement for your project.
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 22 May 2023 at 07:37 AM
OK,
While we are at it, can anyone recommend a DIY manual (or website) for solar cell installation, either for a "balcony" sized one of say 600 watts, or a roof sized one of ~3kW.
(With or without storage).
Posted by: mahonj | 22 May 2023 at 09:01 AM
Guys, I don't know about you, but all the packs I have built in the last 3-4 year use active balancing. Active BMS are very cheap now and (in my experience) work very well, keeping the cells at the same level in the hundredth of volt range.
If you use 12V packs, you cannot balance the weakest cells against the whole pack, you are limited to 3-4S strings. Also, you are relying on the included BMS which could be an old, unreliable top balancer.
Somebody has mentioned balancing the 12V packs against each other...I don't know of any commercial product for that, but if anybody can post a link I would like to check it out.
Posted by: peskanov | 22 May 2023 at 11:08 AM
I will publish diagrams, photos and a description of my system when it’s finished. This will include not just a description of the BMS and balancing, but all system loads and performance characteristics.
Bowlus produces the only all-electric trailer I’m aware of. At 300k, it’s out of reach for most folks.
With the right gear, e.g solar array, and. An electric tow vehicle, you’d be able to go to the end of a very long road, far off grid, set up camp, and after a week or two, drive back to civilization on a fully charged battery.
Compared to having to end your trip because your ran out of propane, that’s pretty cool.
Of course, a resourceful person could also make good use of a setup like that at home in your driveway.
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 26 May 2023 at 12:32 AM