Quote:
Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy
geez, people, even I, have grown more educated about lithium, since a friend has purchased a lithium ion RV. Now I am not so scared about getting the non combustible lithium iron batteries (LiFePO4 chemistry).There are lithium ion batteries which can combust and lithium ion which can't combust. The combustable from the initial chemistries has slowly been improved and replaced with better systems and chemistries.
While i don't have total authority bias, meaning only authorities can be correct and listened to, in comparison to first have knowledge or sources, can we find out from the home owners what actually burned up?
And for those looking to convert from Lead Acid, which also burns, to non combustible Lithium ion, here is a great starter page for the cost and the safety. . I am converting as soon as I have saved up the money for sure. . huge weight savings and battery longevity. And no, I don't perform any financial analysis /payback analysis for personal choices of lifestyle. . financial concept is not applicable. ERROR#N/A
Golf Cart Batteries | Dakota Lithium Batteries
chemistry comparison
LifePO4 vs. Lithium Ion Batteries - Dakota Lithium Batteries
education is key and continuing education is how your brain is re-programmed. . |
I worked for a Lithium ion battery manufacturer and while I was on the mechanical side of battery development I do know a little about the chemistry. When you say there are Lithium batteries that combust and some that do not is misnomer. All lithium batteries can combust but to varying degrees. LiFePO4 is the safest chemistry there is that is mass produced but they are still susceptible to thermal runaway but they release heat at a much lower temperature than batteries that contain cobalt and manganese.
I would expect that most lithium batteries in golf carts sold are LiFePO4 chemistry so you probably won't see the fires that you used to see in earlier Lithium ion batteries that used cobalt and manganese. Looking at the damage in the picture it does seem like this was not an outright fire but a lower temperature thermal runaway but it still can do quite a bit of damage.
The safest lithium battery being developed is a solid state battery that does not have a liquid electrolyte as every other lithium battery including LiFePO4. They are having issues with production as it is more complex than an electrolyte battery and the energy density is lower as well. From what I've heard is that by the end of this decade is when they will be ready for mass production.