In our daily life, electric cargo bikes have gradually become the first choice for people to travel, one of the most important of electric cargo bikes is batteries. Different battery types have different impacts on the performance of electric vehicles. In the market, lead acid batteries, sodium batteries and lithium batteries are currently the highly discussed batteries, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Sodium battery and lithium battery: service life

The positive electrode material of sodium batteries is sodium ions, while the negative electrode material often uses transition metal compounds such as iron chloride (FeCl3) and carbon materials. The positive and negative reactions of sodium batteries occur in liquid electrolytes, and the electrolyte is prone to decomposition when the number of cycles is high. Therefore, the cycle life is limited, with some reaching 3000 cycles.

The positive and negative electrode materials of lithium batteries are lithium ions, carbon, metal oxides, etc. The positive and negative electrodes of lithium batteries are solid materials, and reactions can occur within the material body. For example, the cycle life of lithium iron phosphate is about 3000 times, and the cycle life of ternary lithium batteries is about 2000 times.

Sodium battery vs lithium battery: range

At present, sodium ion batteries are still in an unknown stage, as there are relatively few such cars and electric bicycles, most of which are still in the conceptual stage and have not been mass-produced. However, from a theoretical perspective, compared to lithium batteries, sodium batteries have a relatively low energy density and are currently mainly used in energy storage, automotive and other fields. The field of electric two wheeled bicycles is also actively expanding.

Compared to sodium ion batteries, lithium batteries have a higher energy density and can store more electricity. Moreover, the technology of lithium batteries is relatively mature, making them more widely used in electric vehicles. At present, most intelligent electric bicycles on the market use lithium batteries, and electric motorcycles equipped with lithium batteries will have a longer range.

Sodium battery vs lithium battery: market price

Due to the relatively low maturity of sodium battery technology, the cost of sodium batteries is relatively high. However, the main raw materials for sodium batteries are sodium, electrolyte, and other materials, among which sodium element is relatively easy to obtain and the price is relatively low. Therefore, in theory, the price of sodium batteries should not be high. However, due to the lack of mature sodium battery technology and the absence of mass-produced vehicles, the price is still uncertain.

The main raw materials for lithium batteries are lithium, positive electrode materials, negative electrode materials, and electrolytes, among which the price of lithium element is relatively high, so the cost of raw materials for lithium batteries is relatively high. However, the manufacturing process of lithium batteries is relatively mature, coupled with the rapid development of the electric vehicle market in recent years, the scale of lithium battery production is gradually expanding, and the price of lithium batteries may decrease in the future.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and lead-acid batteries are two of the most commonly used types of batteries for electric cargo bikes. While both have their advantages and disadvantages, there are some key differences between the two.

  • 1.Energy Density: Li-ion batteries have a higher energy density than lead-acid batteries, which means that they can store more energy per unit of weight and volume. This makes Li-ion batteries more compact and lightweight, allowing for greater range and maneuverability.
  • 2.Cycle Life: Li-ion batteries generally have a longer cycle life than lead-acid batteries. Cycle life refers to the number of charge and discharge cycles a battery can go through before it needs to be replaced. Li-ion batteries can typically go through 500-1000 cycles, while lead-acid batteries typically last for around 300-500 cycles.
  • 3.Charging Time: Li-ion batteries have a shorter charging time than lead-acid batteries. This means that you can charge a Li-ion battery faster and get back on the road sooner.
  • 4.Cost: Li-ion batteries are generally more expensive than lead-acid batteries. However, this cost is offset by their longer cycle life and higher energy density, which means that they can be a more cost-effective option in the long run.
  • 5.Environmental Impact: Li-ion batteries are generally considered to be more environmentally friendly than lead-acid batteries. This is because they are more energy-efficient, have a longer lifespan, and are easier to recycle.