The Core Approaches to Extending the Lifespan of Long-Life Lead-Acid Batteries and Lithium-Ion Batteries Differ

The core approaches to extending the lifespan of long-life lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries differ: lead-acid batteries rely on refined maintenance to offset irreversible losses, while lithium-ion batteries depend on scientific usage combined with BMS (Battery Management System) protection to slow down degradation. Specific operational methods are as follows:

I. Lead-Acid Batteries: Focus on "Maintenance" to Reduce Key Losses

The lifespan limitation of lead-acid batteries lies in irreversible plate damage (sulfation, active material shedding). All lifespan-extending measures revolve around "avoiding these damages," which can be specifically implemented through 5 key operations:

1. Regularly replenish distilled water; never add tap water or electrolyte: After electrolyte evaporation, check the liquid level monthly (transparent batteries can be checked directly, while opaque ones require opening the liquid injection cap). When the level is below the "minimum liquid level line," replenish distilled water to the "maximum liquid level line" to prevent plate exposure and subsequent sulfation. This measure can reduce lifespan loss by 30%-50%.
2. Perform "equalization charging" once every 3-6 months: Daily charging is mostly "float charging," which cannot repair minor sulfation. It is necessary to regularly use a dedicated charger (or the "equalization mode" of the original charger) for low-current, long-duration charging (usually 12-16 hours). This ensures consistent voltage across all cells, avoiding premature degradation characterized by "incomplete charging and short range."
3. Control charging: Avoid overcharging and reject high-current fast charging: The charging duration should not exceed 10 hours (after full charging, float charge for 1-2 hours before disconnecting power) to prevent electrolyte boiling and plate softening. Try to avoid high-current fast charging above 0.3C (e.g., for a 48V/600Ah battery, the charging current should not exceed 180A) to reduce plate damage caused by heat generation.
4. Avoid deep discharge; maintain "shallow discharge and shallow charging": In daily use, recharge the battery before the remaining power drops below 20%, and never drain the battery completely (e.g., stop and recharge an electric forklift when only 2 bars of power remain). Shallow discharge (recharging when discharged to 50%) can extend the battery lifespan by 40% compared to deep discharge.
5. Control the operating environment and avoid extreme temperatures: Avoid prolonged operation in high-temperature environments above 40°C (e.g., using the battery immediately after exposure to direct sunlight in summer), as high temperatures accelerate plate corrosion. In low-temperature conditions (＜0°C) in winter, preheat the battery for 10-15 minutes before operation to reduce the impact of low-temperature discharge on the plates.

II. Lithium-Ion Batteries (Taking Lithium Iron Phosphate as an Example): Focus on "Usage Strategies" with BMS Protection

Lithium-ion batteries do not require manual maintenance, but incorrect usage can bypass BMS protection and accelerate degradation. Focus on the following 4 key points:

1. Prioritize batteries with high-quality BMS and regularly check BMS status: BMS is the "lifespan manager" of lithium-ion batteries. A high-quality BMS can actively balance cells and prevent overcharging/overdischarging. When purchasing, check for functions such as "temperature monitoring" and "overcurrent protection." Daily, check the BMS indicator lights (or connect to a terminal to view data) monthly to ensure no faults (e.g., temperature alarms, excessive cell voltage differences).
2. Charging: Support fast charging but do not rely on it; keep half-charged during storage: Daily charging can use 2C-3C fast charging (e.g., charging to 80% in 30 minutes), but do not fully charge the battery every time (disconnect power when charged to 90%) to reduce cell pressure in the fully charged state. Before long-term storage (more than 1 month), charge the battery to 50%-70%—this can extend the lifespan by 15% compared to storing it at full charge.
3. Discharging: Avoid long-term discharge at full charge; do not force high-current discharge at low temperatures: Do not operate the battery while maintaining it at 100% full charge for a long time (e.g., performing heavy-load handling immediately after full charging), as this reduces the risk of cell expansion. At low temperatures (＜0°C), do not suddenly increase the current (e.g., rapid acceleration, heavy-load startup); instead, operate at low current for 5 minutes to preheat the battery, avoiding irreversible damage caused by reduced lithium-ion deintercalation efficiency.
4. Environment: Equip cooling systems for high temperatures; avoid physical damage: During multi-shift operations in high-temperature environments (＞40°C), choose batteries with liquid cooling systems. If no cooling system is available, shut down the battery for 1 hour every 4 hours to cool down. Avoid collisions and extrusion of the battery (e.g., a forklift hitting an obstacle while turning), as this prevents cell deformation from triggering internal short circuits, which can directly lead to battery scrapping.

III. Comparison of Core Measures for Extending the Lifespan of the Two Types of Batteries

Dimension	Core Measures for Lead-Acid Batteries	Core Measures for Lithium-Ion Batteries (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
Maintenance Focus	Regularly replenish distilled water and perform timely equalization charging	No manual maintenance; regularly check BMS status
Charging Key Points	Avoid overcharging (≤10 hours) and prohibit high-current fast charging	Support fast charging (without reliance); keep 50%-70% charge during storage
Discharging Key Points	Prohibit deep discharge (recharge when remaining power ≥20%)	Avoid long-term discharge at full charge; do not force high-current discharge at low temperatures
Environmental Requirements	Avoid high temperatures above 40°C; preheat at low temperatures	Equip liquid cooling systems for high temperatures; avoid physical collision