LFP battery stands for lithium iron phosphate battery. There are many types of lithium-ion batteries, LFP is one of them. LFP battery uses iron phosphate as the cathode material and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode. Compared LFP vs NMC and other types batteries, LFP batteries are capable of charging and discharging faster, and they are superior in all aspects of performance. So it’s one of the best rechargeable batteries out there.
What are NMC batteries?
A Nickel manganese cobalt lithium battery. Nickel manganese cobalt battery abbreviated as (NMC, Li-NMC, LNMC). NMC is a good combination of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. NMC battery is one of the most popular lithium-ion power batteries in the market. NMCs remain on the cathode side of the batteries, which acts as cathode during discharge and charging.
What is the difference between LFP batteries and NMC batteries?
Material
The difference between LFP vs NMC material is that LFP is a relatively cost-effective cathode material for lithium-ion cells that are known to deliver excellent safety. LFP offers several key advantages, including a long life cycle, and superior thermal stability. That makes it one of the safest cathode material options available to lithium battery manufacturers.
The main difference between LFP vs NMC material is that the cathode of NMC battery consists of nickel manganese cobalt. NMC622 material is now one of the commonly used high nickel NMC materials. Its capacity can be more than 180mAh/g. The ternary material makes the NMC battery energy density very high.
Voltage
The difference between LFP vs NMC voltage is that:
Generally, the nominal voltage of the LFP battery is 3.2V. And 3.65V per cell is an adequate charging voltage. The corresponding voltage varies in 3 different conditions. Open circuit voltage, charging state, and discharging state.On the other hand, NMC batteries have a nominal voltage of 3.7V or 3.6V or 3.65V. It becomes charged at 4.2V. Therefore, the voltage of the NMC battery is higher than that of the LFP battery.
Energy density
When we compare LFP vs NMC energy density, we find that LFP has a medium-high energy density compared to other types batteries. The energy density of LFP battery is 100-150 Wh/kg, and the range of NMC battery energy density varies between 150-300 wh/kg. The measurement Wh/kg stands for watt-hour per kilogram. Therefore, the energy density of nmc battery is significantly higher than that of the LFP battery. Under the same size, the NMC battery can provide more energy.
Cost
The cost of different batteries depends on the material the battery is made of and the manufacturer. NMC batteries require large amounts of nickel, manganese, and cobalt as cathode materials, and the materials chosen are expensive. However, with the improvement of battery materials and battery technology, the cost of NMC batteries has dropped significantly
Life
As we see, NMC voltage and energy density are better than LFP. Now we will compare lfp vs nmc battery’s life, NMC’s cycle life is 2000 cycles, while the cycle life of LFP batteries can up to 4000 cycles. The service life of the NMC battery can up to 5 years or more, while the LFP battery has a battery life of up to 10 years under normal use.
Temperature performance
When we compare the temperature performance of the LFP vs NMC battery, we see a big difference between these two. NMC battery is resistant to low temperature, while LFP battery is resistant to high temperature.
Affected by the low electronic conductivity and ionic conductivity of the lithium iron phosphate material, the low temperature performance of the LFP battery is poor. Compared with normal temperature, the capacity retention rate of LFP battery discharge at -20 ℃ is only about 60%, while the NMC battery of the same system can reach more than 70%.
Pros and cons of LFP and NMC batteries
Initially, let’s talk about the pros of LFP vs NMC batteries. LFP batteries are affordable and have a long life cycle, non-toxic, cobalt-free, nickel free, have low internal resistance, have very constant discharge voltage, and have a long shelf life. NMC batteries are also commendable because they have a high voltage platform, high energy density, and a high tap density (The tapped density differentiates as the mass of a sample divided by its volume).
Disadvantages of LFP vs NMC batteries: LFP batteries have low voltage and lower energy density. While NMC has shorter cycle life than LFP batteries.
For what can you use LFP batteries and NMC batteries?
LFP batteries have high-temperature resistance, which is why they are best for home appliances, flashlights, emergency lights, marine electrical systems, portable motor-powered equipment, and radio devices. Furthermore, NMC batteries are capable of use in electric cars, medical equipment, industrial, etc.
NMC batteries are the best for mobile electronics such as mobile phones/smartphones and laptops, and NMC batteries are also suitable as power battery, such as motorcycle battery, electric bicycle battery.
LFP vs NMC – Is NMC better than LFP?
There are many reasons why NMC batteries are the best. The discharge voltage of the NMC battery is far higher, and it starts before the LFP battery at a low temperature. That’s why it is good to use in mobile electronics. Therefore, NMC is the perfect choice for applications at low temperatures. NMC’s charging performance is very high and efficient and it has high energy density, can provide more power.
Is LFP safer than NMC?
From a safety perspective, yes, LFP is better than NMC. LFP contains lithium iron phosphate, which is safer than a combination of nickel manganese and cobalt. Furthermore, LFP batteries are very efficient in handling higher power consumption, which makes them more secure. LFP batteries are less likely to catch fire than NMC batteries. NMC battery is equipped with BMS, so the safety of NMC battery is also guaranteed.
Which lithium battery is the best? What to consider when choosing one?
We see this in the above discussion about these two lithium batteries. It is obvious to say that NMC battery performance is much better. They have a high energy density, which is the primary concern of every customer. In contrast, the life cycle of LFP is much better than NMC. LFP batteries require more space than NMC.
If you have limited space, then you should consider NMC batteries. NMC batteries have smaller volume, higher capacity density, batter low temperature resistance, and are the mainstream of batteries for electric motorcycles and electric bicycles.
Conclusion
Both lithium batteries are good to use for many purposes. It only depends on customers what their needs are. To sum up, comparing LFP vs NMC batteries, NMC batteries are largely the better choice. However, which battery is better depends on the usage scenario of the battery.
LFP vs NMC battery difference comparison
What are LFP batteries?
LFP battery stands for lithium iron phosphate battery. There are many types of lithium-ion batteries, LFP is one of them. LFP battery uses iron phosphate as the cathode material and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode. Compared LFP vs NMC and other types batteries, LFP batteries are capable of charging and discharging faster, and they are superior in all aspects of performance. So it’s one of the best rechargeable batteries out there.
What are NMC batteries?
A Nickel manganese cobalt lithium battery. Nickel manganese cobalt battery abbreviated as (NMC, Li-NMC, LNMC). NMC is a good combination of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. NMC battery is one of the most popular lithium-ion power batteries in the market. NMCs remain on the cathode side of the batteries, which acts as cathode during discharge and charging.
What is the difference between LFP batteries and NMC batteries?
Material
The difference between LFP vs NMC material is that LFP is a relatively cost-effective cathode material for lithium-ion cells that are known to deliver excellent safety. LFP offers several key advantages, including a long life cycle, and superior thermal stability. That makes it one of the safest cathode material options available to lithium battery manufacturers.
The main difference between LFP vs NMC material is that the cathode of NMC battery consists of nickel manganese cobalt. NMC622 material is now one of the commonly used high nickel NMC materials. Its capacity can be more than 180mAh/g. The ternary material makes the NMC battery energy density very high.
Voltage
The difference between LFP vs NMC voltage is that:
Generally, the nominal voltage of the LFP battery is 3.2V. And 3.65V per cell is an adequate charging voltage. The corresponding voltage varies in 3 different conditions. Open circuit voltage, charging state, and discharging state.On the other hand, NMC batteries have a nominal voltage of 3.7V or 3.6V or 3.65V. It becomes charged at 4.2V. Therefore, the voltage of the NMC battery is higher than that of the LFP battery.
Energy density
When we compare LFP vs NMC energy density, we find that LFP has a medium-high energy density compared to other types batteries. The energy density of LFP battery is 100-150 Wh/kg, and the range of NMC battery energy density varies between 150-300 wh/kg. The measurement Wh/kg stands for watt-hour per kilogram. Therefore, the energy density of nmc battery is significantly higher than that of the LFP battery. Under the same size, the NMC battery can provide more energy.
Cost
The cost of different batteries depends on the material the battery is made of and the manufacturer. NMC batteries require large amounts of nickel, manganese, and cobalt as cathode materials, and the materials chosen are expensive. However, with the improvement of battery materials and battery technology, the cost of NMC batteries has dropped significantly
Life
As we see, NMC voltage and energy density are better than LFP. Now we will compare lfp vs nmc battery’s life, NMC’s cycle life is 2000 cycles, while the cycle life of LFP batteries can up to 4000 cycles. The service life of the NMC battery can up to 5 years or more, while the LFP battery has a battery life of up to 10 years under normal use.
Temperature performance
When we compare the temperature performance of the LFP vs NMC battery, we see a big difference between these two. NMC battery is resistant to low temperature, while LFP battery is resistant to high temperature.
Affected by the low electronic conductivity and ionic conductivity of the lithium iron phosphate material, the low temperature performance of the LFP battery is poor. Compared with normal temperature, the capacity retention rate of LFP battery discharge at -20 ℃ is only about 60%, while the NMC battery of the same system can reach more than 70%.
Pros and cons of LFP and NMC batteries
Initially, let’s talk about the pros of LFP vs NMC batteries. LFP batteries are affordable and have a long life cycle, non-toxic, cobalt-free, nickel free, have low internal resistance, have very constant discharge voltage, and have a long shelf life. NMC batteries are also commendable because they have a high voltage platform, high energy density, and a high tap density (The tapped density differentiates as the mass of a sample divided by its volume).
Disadvantages of LFP vs NMC batteries: LFP batteries have low voltage and lower energy density. While NMC has shorter cycle life than LFP batteries.
For what can you use LFP batteries and NMC batteries?
LFP batteries have high-temperature resistance, which is why they are best for home appliances, flashlights, emergency lights, marine electrical systems, portable motor-powered equipment, and radio devices. Furthermore, NMC batteries are capable of use in electric cars, medical equipment, industrial, etc.
NMC batteries are the best for mobile electronics such as mobile phones/smartphones and laptops, and NMC batteries are also suitable as power battery, such as motorcycle battery, electric bicycle battery.
LFP vs NMC – Is NMC better than LFP?
There are many reasons why NMC batteries are the best. The discharge voltage of the NMC battery is far higher, and it starts before the LFP battery at a low temperature. That’s why it is good to use in mobile electronics. Therefore, NMC is the perfect choice for applications at low temperatures. NMC’s charging performance is very high and efficient and it has high energy density, can provide more power.
Is LFP safer than NMC?
From a safety perspective, yes, LFP is better than NMC. LFP contains lithium iron phosphate, which is safer than a combination of nickel manganese and cobalt. Furthermore, LFP batteries are very efficient in handling higher power consumption, which makes them more secure. LFP batteries are less likely to catch fire than NMC batteries. NMC battery is equipped with BMS, so the safety of NMC battery is also guaranteed.
Which lithium battery is the best? What to consider when choosing one?
We see this in the above discussion about these two lithium batteries. It is obvious to say that NMC battery performance is much better. They have a high energy density, which is the primary concern of every customer. In contrast, the life cycle of LFP is much better than NMC. LFP batteries require more space than NMC.
If you have limited space, then you should consider NMC batteries. NMC batteries have smaller volume, higher capacity density, batter low temperature resistance, and are the mainstream of batteries for electric motorcycles and electric bicycles.
Conclusion
Both lithium batteries are good to use for many purposes. It only depends on customers what their needs are. To sum up, comparing LFP vs NMC batteries, NMC batteries are largely the better choice. However, which battery is better depends on the usage scenario of the battery.