Seems everything has gone electric these days, doesn’t it?  If it is not electric it is on the way to becoming electric.  It is no longer just our phones or remote controls, now it’s all electric yard tools, power tools, and more.  We’re even migrating to all electric cars, trucks and vans.  Even homes today can be almost completely powered with batteries.

The first battery was discovered in the year 1800.  A battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The battery was the first device developed to power electrical devices, only later on in the mid 1800's did the dynamo and generator take over as a primary power source. Batteries still occupy an indispensable role everywhere in our lives. They come in all shapes and sizes. Today's engineers are working on exciting advancements, mainly improving energy density and recharge speeds. Improvements in batteries result in very visible changes in society because it is often battery size, weight and cost which are limiting factors in the advancement of technology.

In the case of durable medical equipment (DME), battery-powered mobility equipment provides users with additional freedom and independence. Scooters, power chairs, patient lifts, and much more are all battery powered today.  With the increasing performance and types of batteries available today, we thought some information on batteries would be useful.

AGM Batteries

 

For lighter duty mobility use, AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries serve most needs at a modest price.  Although AGM batteries will not match the cycle-life performance of Gel batteries, they do offer a lower initial cost and will supply sufficient functionality to meet the less critical needs of certain lighter duty mobility applications. AGM batteries offer a lot of advantages:

  • It completely absorbs electrolyte for a spillproof design.
  • Sealed Absorbed Glass Mat technology.  The battery is valve-regulated for efficient operation.
  • AGM batteries have an ultra-premium sealing valve that prevents capacity loss and controls pressure.
  • The fortified posts, straps and welds resist vibration damage.
  • High density oxide provides maximum power-per-point "high cycling" service.
  • Less than 2% per month self-discharge.  This translates into dependability.
  • Travel & ship easily. FAA, IATA, DOT and UPS approved.
  • Maintenance-free.
  • Quality construction ensures consistent and reliable performance for long-term dependability.
  • Specialized valve design; tested in-house for 100% reliability.
  • Forged terminals and bushings assure no leakage.
  • UL recognized component.

Gel Batteries

 

Gel batteries are some of the most outstanding batteries one can install.  They are the highest quality deep cycle batteries.  They cost more than the AGM batteries but provide longer periods of performance and typically a longer life – averaging one to two years longer when properly maintained.  When it comes to long life, quality and performance, gel is your best route.   The difference between AGM batteries and Gel batteries is the Gel battery electrolyte is completely immobilized in a highly viscous gelling agent in order to prevent any spillage.  As a result, the gel battery is going to deliver 2 to 3 times the cycle life of AGM batteries in high-demand, deep-cycle applications.  We are going to always recommend Gel batteries in our more robust scooters and power chairs.  As a gel battery there is no liquid of any kind and the battery is completely sealed.  That means it is safe in any position (except upside down).  Gel batteries have a special re-sealing vent system that prevents excessive internal pressure, thus minimizing risk of explosion under normal operating conditions.  You never have to add water to a Gel battery thereby eliminating the of corrosive acid fumes and spills.  Probably one of the strongest arguments for the gel battery is that they are capable of more than 1,000 cycles use.  That’s around 50% more than AGM batteries so you should expect one to two years of battery life.  The Gel batteries charge faster than do AGM’s and have less than 2% discharge during transportation and storage.  Finally, there are over 250 quality control checks to ensure peak operation and that the most stringent testing standards are met.

Lithium Batteries

 

Lithium batteries have been around for decades but it has only been in the last few years that their safety, efficiency and use have really started accelerating.  Today there are many lithium batteries and cells that are readily available directly to consumers for use in pretty much anything you want.  Lithium batteries are used in bicycles, cars, homes, power tools, energy storage, drones, robotics, mobility products, – almost anything can have a lithium battery.  They are more expensive than the AGM and Gel batteries but you get significantly longer life, better performance and significantly less weight.  They are much smaller than their older counterparts and easy to transport.  There are several types of lithium cells today: Lithium ion (Li-ion) which is the most common, Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn2O4), Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2), Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2 or NMC), Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (LiNiCoAIO2, NCA, or NCR), Lithium polymer (li-poly or liop or RC lipo), and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4).  The newest technology for lithium battery cells far outpaces what you can currently buy. Right now, there are lithium-ion cells on lab tables in clean rooms that can completely charge in a few seconds, weigh a fraction of what previous cells weighed and perform all sorts of amazing feats.  The batteries we use today were developed years ago, and have undergone extensive development, testing and commercialization processes to reach our devices.  The world is definitely moving to lithium batteries and will continue so in the future.

Lithium ion

 

Li-ion is the most common type of lithium battery used today in consumer electronics.  The lithium powered scooters we have in the store at Affordable Medical Equipment use Li-ion batteries.  They have the highest energy to weight ratio and are also some of the most energy dense cells.  This means you can pack a lot of energy into a small and light volume.

Li-ion cells are relatively safe cells, at least as far as lithium batteries go.  Unless the cell has been heavily damaged, exposed to extreme heat, short-circuited or abused the chances of fire are mitigated.  Li-ion batteries have relatively long cycle lives.  The shortest are rated for around 300 cycles (comparable to an AGM battery) while the longest can last for over 1,000 cycles.  We are using a variance of the Li-ion in some of our scooters today that can last up to 5,000 cycles or more.  We will discuss that later.  One of the greatest attributes of the Li-ion batteries is availability.  They are widely available in different sizes, shapes, capacities and levels of performance.

Lithium Iron Phosphate

We are covering this specific lithium battery because it is the one that we have chosen to use for now in our scooters when trading out AGM to lithium.  There are two specific reasons for this - cycle life and safety.  Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries have the longest rated cycle life of all commonly available lithium battery cells.  They are often rated for over 2,000 cycles.  The brand we are using actually claims that their battery is good for 5,000 cycles.  They are also the safest lithium battery chemistry available.  Documented fires from Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries have been incredibly rare.  The lithium Iron phosphate is slightly more expensive and weighs a little more than the lithium ion but we feel it’s a small price for the longevity of the battery in the mobility product and the safety it affords our customers.  After all, most of our customers are elderly or have a disability and the last thing we would want to do is put them in any kind of danger.  The lithium iron phosphate battery that you purchase will probably outlive the mobility product itself!

Conclusion

Our livelihood depends on providing our customers with the absolute best in products, services and advice. In order to ensure we remain diligent to that end we spend countless hours researching, developing and testing products.  We don’t want to simply provide the best products of today, but those that we feel will meet your mobility needs for years to come.  Therein lies the purpose of this blog.  We have been selling lithium-ion products for over three years.  What we have found is that they stand up well to daily use, provide the power necessary for long durations, and they have a useful life far longer than traditional batteries.  Call or contact us today to see if we can assist you in getting longer life out of your mobility products.