Ternary lithium batteries are rechargeable batteries as a type of lithium-ion battery. A ternary lithium battery contains two electrodes (anode and cathode) , the electrolyte, a separator. The separator keeps the two electrodes apart while allowing ions to move between them. In a ternary lithium battery, the separator is a gel-like material that keep the two electrodes apart to prevent short circuits.
What are ternary lithium batteries made of?
The materials that make up a ternary lithium battery are nickel, cobalt, manganese (positive electrode),carbon (negative electrode) and an electrolyte whose electrolyte is mainly lithium hexafluorophosphate.
What are the specifications of a ternary lithium battery cell?
Voltage
3.6/3.65/3.7V
Capacity
2000mAh-5000mAh
Cycle life
2000 cycles
Discharge C Rate
0.2-0.5C
Discharge current
100mA-200mA
Battery weight
-100g
Battery charging time
2-3 hours
Are ternary lithium batteries safe?
Yes, in general there is no risk to humans from using ternary batteries. However, they should never be stored near flammables or combustibles and it should also not be stored and used in a high temperature environment. This is because ternary lithium batteries are not resistant to high temperatures and are prone to short-circuiting at extreme temperatures and may catch fire or explode.
However, lithium-ion batteries are built-in BMS, which can effectively prevent short-circuit overheating and other situations. Some intelligent BMS also has a cooling function to ensure the safety of the battery. Meanwhile, since most batteries now use gel electrolyte, it can better ensure the safety of ternary lithium batteries.
The difference between a ternary lithium battery and a LiFePo4 battery
● Energy density:
Ternary lithium batteries are referred to as NMC batteries. Due to the use of more active metal elements, the energy density of ternary lithium battery can reach 400wh/kg. On the contrary, the energy density of lithium iron phosphate battery is usually 185wh/kg. Ternary lithium has higher energy density and faster charging speed.
● Cycle life:
The cycle life of lithium iron phosphate battery is more than 4000 times, while the cycle life of ternary lithium battery is about 2000 times. Therefore, in terms of cycle life, lithium iron phosphate batteries will have a much longer lifespan than ternary lithium batteries.
● Cell voltage:
Ternary lithium battery refers to a lithium battery with nickel cobalt manganese as the positive electrode material and graphite as the negative electrode material. Different from lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium battery has a high voltage platform, which means that ternary lithium battery has greater specific energy and specific power under the same volume or weight.
● Weight:
Since the energy density of LiFePo4 battery is smaller than that of ternary lithium batteries, the weight of LiFePo4 battery will be larger when the energy is the same.
● Cost:
Compared with ternary lithium-ion batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries do not contain precious metals such as cobalt, so the cost of raw materials is lower, and the life of lithium iron phosphate batteries is long. In the long run, the price of lithium iron phosphate batteries is more cost-effective.
● Temperature performance:
Lithium iron phosphate batteries are more resistant to high temperatures than ternary lithium batteries, but the low temperature performance of ternary lithium batteries is better.
● Safety:
Ternary lithium batteries are more active, while LiFePo4 batteries have higher heat resistance, so lithium iron phosphate batteries are relatively safer.
● Application:
Ternary lithium batteries and their applications are many in different fields. Its applications may include the e-bike battery，motorcycle battery, electric scooter battery，power tool battery, ev battery and so on.
They are perfect for power batteries, is the battery system that enables electric vehicles to travel long distances on a single charge.Ternary lithium battery properties provide great efficiency and optimum power output. This property, in combination with the low weight of ternary cells, allows to reduce the weight burden of the whole vehicle and locks in perfect stabilization with power and speed.
Ternary lithium batteries are also used in certain alternative energy and military applications.
In addition, ternary lithium batteries could potentially replace lead-acid batteries in some applications.
To make it short, both ternary lithium battery and LiFePo4 battery can be regarded as high performance batteries. but these two batteries have their own advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose different batteries according to different application scenarios.
Advantages and Disadvantages of ternary lithium battery
Advantages
Ternary batteries have numerous advantages over other types of batteries. Compared with other batteries, the advantages of ternary lithium batteries are high energy density, long cycle life, and environmental friendliness.
● Durable:
The cycle life of lead-acid battery is generally about 500 times, while the ternary lithium battery can reach 2000 times. Therefore, ternary lithium batteries are more durable than lead-acid batteries.
● Compact size:
The compact size of ternary lithium battery makes them ideal for portable devices and power system. Because the energy density of ternary lithium battery is much higher than other types of batteries, under the same battery specifications, the size of ternary lithium batteries is smaller.
● High power density:
Ternary lithium batteries have a higher power density compared to other type of batteries. Power density refers to the amount of power produced per unit volume of battery. As a result, ternary lithium batteries are able to provide more power than other type of batteries.
● Low self discharge rate:
The self-discharge rate of ternary lithium battery is 3.5% per month, while lead-acid batteries are less than 25%. Therefore, the ternary lithium battery has a low self-discharge rate and relatively stable performance.
● Environmental friendliness:
Ternary lithium is environmentally friendly since it does not produce any toxic gases during its operation. Moreover, the manufacturing process of these batteries are free of harmful chemicals.
Disadvantages
However, ternary batteries have their own set of drawbacks. The most obvious disadvantage is that they have lower thermal stability and have a lower ignition point when subjected to impact and high temperature.
How to choose the correct ternary lithium battery for my electric motorcycles?
● Battery capacity:
The first thing to consider when choosing a ternary lithium battery is its capacity. A high-capacity battery means that it can store more power than a low-capacity battery. You want to make sure that you have enough power to get you where you need to go. If you’re planning on using your electric motorcycle for long distances, then you’ll probably want to invest in a higher-capacity battery. If you plan on using your electric motorcycl for short trips around town, then you may not need a high-capacity battery.
● Voltage:
Most electric motorcycles generally 48v 60v 72v three specifications, for which you can choose the corresponding volts of ternary lithium batteries.
● Cycle life:
Cycle life refers to how many times you can charge and discharge your battery before DOD dropped to 80%. And the cycle life of ternary lithium battery is at least 2,000 times, so with reasonable use, electric motorcycles can usually last 5-8 years.
● Charging method:
You can either charge your battery directly from a wall socket. If you need to drive a long distance on an electric motorcycle every day, you may need to charge it once or twice a day. In this case, you can directly choose the motorcycle battery swapping service without charging. At the battery swap station, it only takes one minute to replace a dead battery with a fully charged one, without spending time waiting for charging.
● Safety features:
Safety features refer to whether the battery is installed with a BMS of qualified quality. Batteries with safety features are safer to use and prevent overcharging. Overcharging damages the battery and reduces its lifespan.
● Warranty:
Warranty refers to how long the manufacturer guarantees the quality of the product. Warranties vary from 1 year to 5 years.
● Weight:
If you plan on carrying your electric motorcycle around frequently, then you’ll want a lighter battery that is easier to carry.
● Price:
Batteries vary in price depending on the brand, type, and capacity.
How do we store ternary lithium batteries?
Store in a cool and dry place
Maintain 40-60% of power
Charge and discharge every three months
Keep away from fire and high temperature places
How do we properly recycle ternary lithium batteries?
We should send it to a designated organization or oh send it back to the lithium-ion battery manufacturer. The recycling value of lithium-ion batteries is great, and they can generally be reused after backhanding.
Is 18650 a ternary lithium battery?
18650 is just a standard battery package, representing a diameter of 18mm and a height of 65.0mm. ternary lithium or lithium iron phosphate can be manufactured in this shape. We can just measure the voltage of the battery to know what kind of battery the 18650 is made of. If the cell voltage is 3.6 3.65 3.7 then it is ternary lithium
What can I do if my battery is dead?
If your battery is dead, check your circuit breaker box first. If your circuit breaker isn’t tripped, then you may have a short somewhere in your home. Try replacing the battery again, and if that doesn’t work, call a professional.
Dear readers, My professional journey began with a master's degree in Electronic Engineering, after which I directed my focus towards in lithium battery swap systems. As a engineer at a renowned battery company, I've not only wholeheartedly contributed to several successful battery swapping station projects, but have also gained a wealth of experience. Through my writing, I aspire to share insights and knowledge about motorcycle battery swapping for you.
Useful facts about ternary lithium battery
What is a ternary lithium battery?
Ternary lithium batteries are rechargeable batteries as a type of lithium-ion battery. A ternary lithium battery contains two electrodes (anode and cathode) , the electrolyte, a separator. The separator keeps the two electrodes apart while allowing ions to move between them. In a ternary lithium battery, the separator is a gel-like material that keep the two electrodes apart to prevent short circuits.
What are ternary lithium batteries made of?
The materials that make up a ternary lithium battery are nickel, cobalt, manganese (positive electrode),carbon (negative electrode) and an electrolyte whose electrolyte is mainly lithium hexafluorophosphate.
What are the specifications of a ternary lithium battery cell?
Are ternary lithium batteries safe?
Yes, in general there is no risk to humans from using ternary batteries. However, they should never be stored near flammables or combustibles and it should also not be stored and used in a high temperature environment. This is because ternary lithium batteries are not resistant to high temperatures and are prone to short-circuiting at extreme temperatures and may catch fire or explode.
However, lithium-ion batteries are built-in BMS, which can effectively prevent short-circuit overheating and other situations. Some intelligent BMS also has a cooling function to ensure the safety of the battery. Meanwhile, since most batteries now use gel electrolyte, it can better ensure the safety of ternary lithium batteries.
The difference between a ternary lithium battery and a LiFePo4 battery
● Energy density:
Ternary lithium batteries are referred to as NMC batteries. Due to the use of more active metal elements, the energy density of ternary lithium battery can reach 400wh/kg. On the contrary, the energy density of lithium iron phosphate battery is usually 185wh/kg. Ternary lithium has higher energy density and faster charging speed.
● Cycle life:
The cycle life of lithium iron phosphate battery is more than 4000 times, while the cycle life of ternary lithium battery is about 2000 times. Therefore, in terms of cycle life, lithium iron phosphate batteries will have a much longer lifespan than ternary lithium batteries.
● Cell voltage:
Ternary lithium battery refers to a lithium battery with nickel cobalt manganese as the positive electrode material and graphite as the negative electrode material. Different from lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium battery has a high voltage platform, which means that ternary lithium battery has greater specific energy and specific power under the same volume or weight.
● Weight:
Since the energy density of LiFePo4 battery is smaller than that of ternary lithium batteries, the weight of LiFePo4 battery will be larger when the energy is the same.
● Cost:
Compared with ternary lithium-ion batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries do not contain precious metals such as cobalt, so the cost of raw materials is lower, and the life of lithium iron phosphate batteries is long. In the long run, the price of lithium iron phosphate batteries is more cost-effective.
● Temperature performance:
Lithium iron phosphate batteries are more resistant to high temperatures than ternary lithium batteries, but the low temperature performance of ternary lithium batteries is better.
● Safety:
Ternary lithium batteries are more active, while LiFePo4 batteries have higher heat resistance, so lithium iron phosphate batteries are relatively safer.
● Application:
Ternary lithium batteries and their applications are many in different fields. Its applications may include the e-bike battery，motorcycle battery, electric scooter battery，power tool battery, ev battery and so on.
They are perfect for power batteries, is the battery system that enables electric vehicles to travel long distances on a single charge.Ternary lithium battery properties provide great efficiency and optimum power output. This property, in combination with the low weight of ternary cells, allows to reduce the weight burden of the whole vehicle and locks in perfect stabilization with power and speed.
Ternary lithium batteries are also used in certain alternative energy and military applications.
In addition, ternary lithium batteries could potentially replace lead-acid batteries in some applications.
To make it short, both ternary lithium battery and LiFePo4 battery can be regarded as high performance batteries. but these two batteries have their own advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose different batteries according to different application scenarios.
Advantages and Disadvantages of ternary lithium battery
Advantages
Ternary batteries have numerous advantages over other types of batteries. Compared with other batteries, the advantages of ternary lithium batteries are high energy density, long cycle life, and environmental friendliness.
● Durable:
The cycle life of lead-acid battery is generally about 500 times, while the ternary lithium battery can reach 2000 times. Therefore, ternary lithium batteries are more durable than lead-acid batteries.
● Compact size:
The compact size of ternary lithium battery makes them ideal for portable devices and power system. Because the energy density of ternary lithium battery is much higher than other types of batteries, under the same battery specifications, the size of ternary lithium batteries is smaller.
● High power density:
Ternary lithium batteries have a higher power density compared to other type of batteries. Power density refers to the amount of power produced per unit volume of battery. As a result, ternary lithium batteries are able to provide more power than other type of batteries.
● Low self discharge rate:
The self-discharge rate of ternary lithium battery is 3.5% per month, while lead-acid batteries are less than 25%. Therefore, the ternary lithium battery has a low self-discharge rate and relatively stable performance.
● Environmental friendliness:
Ternary lithium is environmentally friendly since it does not produce any toxic gases during its operation. Moreover, the manufacturing process of these batteries are free of harmful chemicals.
Disadvantages
However, ternary batteries have their own set of drawbacks. The most obvious disadvantage is that they have lower thermal stability and have a lower ignition point when subjected to impact and high temperature.
How to choose the correct ternary lithium battery for my electric motorcycles?
● Battery capacity:
The first thing to consider when choosing a ternary lithium battery is its capacity. A high-capacity battery means that it can store more power than a low-capacity battery. You want to make sure that you have enough power to get you where you need to go. If you’re planning on using your electric motorcycle for long distances, then you’ll probably want to invest in a higher-capacity battery. If you plan on using your electric motorcycl for short trips around town, then you may not need a high-capacity battery.
● Voltage:
Most electric motorcycles generally 48v 60v 72v three specifications, for which you can choose the corresponding volts of ternary lithium batteries.
● Cycle life:
Cycle life refers to how many times you can charge and discharge your battery before DOD dropped to 80%. And the cycle life of ternary lithium battery is at least 2,000 times, so with reasonable use, electric motorcycles can usually last 5-8 years.
● Charging method:
You can either charge your battery directly from a wall socket. If you need to drive a long distance on an electric motorcycle every day, you may need to charge it once or twice a day. In this case, you can directly choose the motorcycle battery swapping service without charging. At the battery swap station, it only takes one minute to replace a dead battery with a fully charged one, without spending time waiting for charging.
● Safety features:
Safety features refer to whether the battery is installed with a BMS of qualified quality. Batteries with safety features are safer to use and prevent overcharging. Overcharging damages the battery and reduces its lifespan.
● Warranty:
Warranty refers to how long the manufacturer guarantees the quality of the product. Warranties vary from 1 year to 5 years.
● Weight:
If you plan on carrying your electric motorcycle around frequently, then you’ll want a lighter battery that is easier to carry.
● Price:
Batteries vary in price depending on the brand, type, and capacity.
How do we store ternary lithium batteries?
How do we properly recycle ternary lithium batteries?
We should send it to a designated organization or oh send it back to the lithium-ion battery manufacturer. The recycling value of lithium-ion batteries is great, and they can generally be reused after backhanding.
Is 18650 a ternary lithium battery?
18650 is just a standard battery package, representing a diameter of 18mm and a height of 65.0mm. ternary lithium or lithium iron phosphate can be manufactured in this shape. We can just measure the voltage of the battery to know what kind of battery the 18650 is made of. If the cell voltage is 3.6 3.65 3.7 then it is ternary lithium
What can I do if my battery is dead?
If your battery is dead, check your circuit breaker box first. If your circuit breaker isn’t tripped, then you may have a short somewhere in your home. Try replacing the battery again, and if that doesn’t work, call a professional.