Most seasoned drivers have experienced the embarrassment of a car breaking down and failing to start on the roadside, right? This situation often arises because your vehicle’s lead-acid battery has aged or run out of power. If there’s no repair shop nearby or you can’t find another car to jump-start your battery, it can be truly frustrating.
Honestly, whether you’re a driver with over 20 years of experience or a car reviewer who’s tested hundreds of vehicles, it’s baffling to see that the lead-acid car battery, which hasn’t evolved in decades, is still in use!
In this day and age, when cars are becoming smarter and new energy vehicles are everywhere, it’s surprising that such an outdated lead-acid battery is still used as an essential component for starting and powering vehicles—even in luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands to millions, or in hybrid vehicles that have already transitioned to electric power. You’d be hard-pressed to find a lead-acid battery outside of a car’s engine compartment in major cities.
When it comes to lead-acid batteries, almost all veteran car owners have suffered from their numerous drawbacks:
- Short lifespan: A new car might break down within two or three years due to battery issues.
- Susceptibility to power loss: If your car is parked for a while, it may not start, and if the battery is drained, jump-starting it can be particularly troublesome.
In addition, these batteries are bulky and heavy, often weighing over 10 kilograms, and are expensive to replace—decent lead-acid batteries start at 400 RMB. If your car has an automatic start-stop function, you’ll need to replace it with an AGM battery, which starts at 1.000 RMB.
What you might not know is that they’re also hazardous: lead-acid batteries contain a large amount of strong acid, which can be extremely dangerous if leaked and comes into contact with the body. Additionally, lead, a heavy metal element, is a key material in these batteries, and improper handling during production, use, and recycling can cause irreversible damage to the environment and public health.
So, why are lead-acid batteries still widely used by most automakers despite their “universal condemnation”? I think there are two main reasons: First, cost. Lead-acid batteries are still the cheapest option available, especially when it comes to meeting the demands of both starting the car and powering the electrical system, which requires a battery with at least 60Ah capacity. Switching to lithium batteries would be much more expensive. Second, technology. The specific power needs and usage environment require a custom-developed battery that meets these conditions, which involves significant financial and technical investment.
Considering all this, you can understand why I was so eager to discuss a recent announcement that BYD has completed equipping its entire range of hybrid models with lithium iron phosphate starter batteries!
BYD actually began developing lithium iron phosphate starter batteries back in 2009. and after continuous iterations and improvements, these batteries have reached a high level of reliability and maturity. Compared to the problems we just discussed with lead-acid batteries, let’s look at the advantages of lithium iron phosphate starter batteries:
1. Long lifespan: According to published data, BYD’s lithium iron phosphate starter batteries can achieve over 3.000 cycles, which is equivalent to the lifespan of the vehicle itself. You’ll never have to worry about replacing the battery or it failing due to aging—it’s both worry-free and cost-effective.
2. No power loss even if the car is not used for a long time: BYD’s starter battery is equipped with a BMS (Battery Management System) that can monitor battery indicators in real-time and manage them dynamically. When the starter battery is low on power, the main power battery will automatically recharge it. So no matter how long your car sits idle, it won’t lose power, and you can start it anytime!
3. Lightweight and compact: The energy density of lithium batteries is on a completely different level compared to lead-acid batteries. BYD’s lithium iron phosphate starter battery weighs as little as 2 kilograms, less than one-fifth of a lead-acid battery. Its smaller size also means it can be placed in more flexible locations, freeing up valuable space in the engine compartment—a significant benefit for both new energy vehicles and compact cars.
4. Environmentally friendly: It contains no heavy metals. I came across a statistic: as the world’s first company to equip vehicles with lithium iron phosphate starter batteries, BYD has, over six years, installed these batteries in over 2 million new energy vehicles, reducing lead usage by over 20.000 tons and preventing heavy metal pollution of over 140.000 acres of soil. That deserves a round of applause!
Although lithium iron phosphate starter batteries are significantly more expensive than lead-acid batteries, BYD has not raised car prices, nor have they aggressively promoted this feature over the past six years.
I believe BYD’s decision to popularize lithium iron phosphate starter batteries at their own expense is entirely to address user “pain points” and enhance user experience. For this, they deserve major praise!
Through this program, I sincerely hope more Chinese car brands will follow suit, allowing drivers to finally bid farewell to the troubles of lead-acid batteries and driving the comprehensive transformation of China’s automotive industry towards lead-free vehicles, contributing to green and low-carbon development!
