Lead-acid batteries have long been the gold standard in floor machines, but lithium batteries are beginning to infiltrate the marketplace. Their lightweight makes them a viable option for backpack vacuums — and more recently they are finding their way into auto scrubbers, albeit for different reasons.
“Lithium is a buzzword in the industry right now,” says Tim Wittig, director of NexSys Products Americas at EnerSys, Reading, Pennsylvania. “People are asking for it by name, but what they’re really asking for is a maintenance-free experience.”
Indeed, one of the major selling points of lithium batteries is that they don’t require maintenance, unlike flooded lead-acid batteries.
“The workhorse in the industry has always been the flooded lead-acid battery,” says Fred Wehmeyer, senior vice president of engineering for U.S. Battery Manufacturing Co., Augusta, Georgia. “The downside is they have to be watered regularly, which can be time-consuming. So you have to consider the labor costs of watering these batteries.”
While zero maintenance is an attractive feature of lithium batteries, some argue customers can achieve similar benefits with alternative technologies.
Investing in a single-point watering system can reduce the time it takes to flood lead-acid batteries from 30 minutes down to one or two minutes per battery. Sealed lead-acid batteries are another option that doesn’t require maintenance; however, some cite the expense and shorter cycle life as drawbacks compared to their flooded counterparts.
BSLBATT Battery, Huizhou, China, is seeing a growing interest in lithium batteries for auto scrubbers. Two China manufacturers are testing the company’s 24-Volt and 36-Voltlithium iron phosphate battery in their auto scrubbers. Another equipment manufacturer in China is successfully selling auto scrubbers equipped with BSLBATT’s lithium battery.
Lithium batteries are best suited for floor cleaning applications where cleanliness is critical, such as in cleanrooms. They also excel in high-demand applications where appearance is paramount, such as hotel lobbies and shopping malls. In these environments, lithium batteries have the advantages of longer run times and quicker recharge times compared to lead-acid batteries.
Another advantage of lithium batteries is that they can tolerate a partial state of charge, meaning that if the user leaves the battery in a discharged or partially charged state, it will not cause damage to the battery. On the other hand, lead-acid batteries must be fully charged prior to use. Failure to do so could result in irreversible damage to the battery plates.
Manufacturers claim lithium batteries have a much longer cycle life than lead-acid batteries — an estimated 3,000 cycles or more, versus 300 to 500 cycles for a lead-acid battery. Furthermore, the battery maintains its power throughout the cycle, whereas lead-acid batteries lose power quickly during discharge.
As you use lead-acid batteries, they get sluggish and in the last hour, you’ll notice [the autoscrubber] slow down, With lithium, the machine is at full power the entire time.
Although there are myriad benefits from lithium batteries, they can come at a price. Lithium options are far more expensive than lead-acid batteries, according to battery manufacturers.
BSLBATT estimates EnerSys’ lithium battery is three times the price of the company’s lead-acid battery. However, customers need to consider the total cost of ownership when choosing between lithium and less-expensive alternatives.
Lithium batteries are more expensive up front, but you have to look at the benefits and cost over the life of the product. Lithium batteries can last up to 10 years, whereas lead-acid batteries will need to be replaced every couple of years, depending on the application. There are also costs associated with maintaining lead-acid batteries. So the lithium battery will be less expensive over the life of the product.
In reality, a lithium battery with a 10-year warranty could outlast the auto scrubber that it powers.
The life of [floor] equipment is about three years — and maybe an additional two years if it’s refurbished. “So you’re looking at a five-year lifespan for an auto scrubber.
While the battery could potentially power a new piece of equipment, Wittig believes batteries are becoming more like cell phones. The technology quickly becomes outdated and in 10 years, no one will want it.
This raises another concern about lithium batteries: Recyclability.
Please refer to https://www.lithium-battery-factory.com/recycling-lithium-ion-batteries/