Lithium Ion Battery Solutions

Discover the advantages of lithium ion batteries in uninterruptible power supply applications. Mitsubishi Electric offers multiple lithium battery backup solutions, compatible with various sized UPS.

Lithium Ion Battery Solutions

Discover the advantages of lithium ion batteries in uninterruptible power supply applications. Mitsubishi Electric offers multiple lithium battery backup solutions, compatible with various sized UPS.

Choose lithium ion as your backup power supply

Many customers are now looking beyond VRLA batteries for their mission critical applications. Lithium ion power for UPS offer an extended lifespan, increased power density and smaller footprint - many features that greatly exceed the capabilities of traditional lead acid products.

 

Not only are lithium ion battery backups more eco-friendly than their VRLA counterparts, they’re also more cost efficient, with a longer lifespan more in line with that of Mitsubishi Electric Uninterruptible Power Supplies. This means less battery replacements over time. UPS lithium ion batteries also require less energy to keep them charged. Learn more about the advantages of lithium ion batteries in your UPS below.

 

 

Lithium ion battery backups offer superior life spans

When comparing battery technologies, it’s important to consider not only immediate runtime minutes, but also the total life span of different solutions.

 

You need a battery backup that not only supports critical functions for an appropriate duration during an outage, but one that can do so consistently over the course of several years before a replacement is required.

 

VRLA

A low cost "go-to" for 5+ minutes with a short lifespan of 3-5 years

 

Wet Cell (VLA) & 20-Year VRLA

Longer life of up to 15 years - if you're willing to pay significantly more

 

Pure Lead

Sub 1 minute runtimes with a lifespan up to 7 years


Lithium Ion

BCL04 Cabinet

A 15-year lifespan best-suited for 2-20-minute runtimes

 

BCL06 & BCL07 Cabinet

A 20-year lifespan best-suited for 2-10-minute runtimes

 

Lithium ion battery backups offer extended life spans compared to VRLA and pure lead batteries - without the price hike you see with 20-year VRLA and wet cell batteries.

Lower Your Total Cost of Ownership With a Lithium UPS

The less you have to replace your battery, the lower your battery budget can be over time. Upfront cost matters, of course, but it needs to be considered in conjunction with replacement costs over time.

 

The extended life span of a lithium ion backup power supply offers a significant advantage over VRLA with its longer life – 3X VRLA’s life span.

 

Fewer replacements mean fewer outlays of cash down the road. In fact, although a lithium ion solution may have a higher initial cost, a total cost of ownership analysis shows lithium ion as the preferred energy solution over the lifetime of the equipment – a 40% reduction over VRLA. 

Achieve a higher power density & a smaller footprint*

With a 40-60% smaller footprint and 60% lower weight than VRLA, lithium ion battery backups for UPS take up less space that can be leveraged for critical equipment. Plus, their lighter weight makes them easier to transport. With lithium ion UPS backups, you don’t have to sacrifice power for space either. Our lithium ion battery cabinets have power density 4X that of VRLA, so they are able to do even more in a smaller space. This high discharge power and small size makes them a perfect solution for edge data centers, as well as pre-fabricated construction. However, cost and footprint aren’t the only reasons to choose a lithium ion battery backup for your UPS.

*When compared to legacy backup power solutions

Advantages of LITHIUM ION over VRLA

 

Higher Efficiency

96% efficiency yields more cost savings over the lifetime of the UPS and batteries.

 

Reduced Maintenance

A visual inspection is recommended only once a year. Battery replacement services are not expected over the lifetime of the UPS system.

 

Expanded Functionality

Peak shaving saves utility costs by supporting load at peak demand. Batteries are discharged during peak demand and recharged during lower cost periods.

 

Integrated BMS

LiB batteries include integrated battery management, providing real-time data and trending, as well as safety monitoring & control

 

High Energy Density

3-5x the energy density of VRLA, delivering the equivalent amount of energy in a significantly smaller footprint, and therefore, more flexibility in facility installation.

 

Longer Shelf Life

Shelf life of 2 years before recharging is required, increasing options for timing of purchase and installation.

 

Higher Cycle Life

LiB possesses the ability to be cycled 25x more than VRLA, enabling longer lifespan, peak shaving, and grid stabilization capabilities.

 

Longer Operating Life

Lifespan of 15-25 years before reaching end-of-life (60% capacity). No battery replacements are expected over the lifetime of the UPS.

 

Lighter Weight

5-6x lighter than VRLA solutions with equivalent energy, providing cost savings and flexibility in shipment, installation & facilities. 

 

Lower TCO

Over 65% of the total cost of ownership of the UPS system is reduced by lower maintenance, no battery replacement, and lower operating costs.

 

Smaller Footprint

At 40-60% smaller than VRLA, lithium ion backups for UPS allow more floor space for revenue-generating equipment.


Lithium ion battery systems can be advantageous to your containerized solution.

 


Chemistry Options for Lithium Battery Backups

We offer multiple UPS lithium battery solutions, each with its own virtues, depending on your particular runtime requirements, UPS size, and power needs.  

The lithium ion battery cabinets are available with one of two different chemistries. Each are safe, dependable, and would be well-suited to support a UPS in standard or edge data center applications.

 

LMO/NMC Type Batteries - Lithium Manganese Oxide / Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide Mix (LiMn2O4 / NiMcCoO2)

Li-ion with manganese spinel has been around since 1983. In 1996, Moli Energy commercialized a Li-ion cell with lithium manganese oxide as cathode material. The architecture improves ion flow on the electrode, resulting in lower internal resistance and improved current handling. It also provides high thermal stability and enhanced safety, but the cycle and calendar life are limited.

 

SLFP Type Batteries - Super Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4, with a Proprietary Chemistry Blend)

LFP is a stable chemistry and has a higher safety rating. LFP cells generally experience a slower rate of capacity loss than cobalt or manganese spinel batteries. The phosphate and oxygen bond in LFP batteries is a stronger bond, and the oxygen atoms release slower in a critical event, leading to improved safety during thermal runaway. LFP batteries have low toxicity and medium-high energy density, which makes them a safe and dependable lithium ion solution for critical data center applications and battery energy storage. 

Code Certifications

The codes and regulations for lithium ion batteries are constantly changing. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Fire Code (IFC) added sections directly related to the installation and use of lithium ion batteries.

 

In combination with these, UL and IEC have created requirements for lithium ion batteries to ensure their safe use and operation in energy storage systems. Mitsubishi Electric can help you navigate the latest information and codes.

Mitsubishi Electric's Lithium Ion UPS

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