Although lanpwr batterie performs well in terms of performance, it still has some limitations that users need to weigh. Firstly, the initial cost is relatively high – the 100Ah model is priced at $650 (while lead-acid batteries of the same capacity are only $250), with a premium of 160%. Although its cycle life (4,500 times) is nine times that of lead-acid batteries, budget-sensitive users may find it hard to afford. According to IDC data, the global penetration rate of lithium batteries was 58% in 2023, but the share of lead-acid batteries in price-sensitive markets such as India and Southeast Asia still accounted for 72%. For instance, the short-term return on investment (ROI) of lead-acid batteries chosen by Filipino fishermen is 18%, while lanpwr batterie needs 2.5 years to break even (with an average of 2 charge and discharge cycles per day).
In terms of weight and volume, the 100Ah model of lanpwr batterie weighs 22kg (about 28kg for lead-acid batteries of the same capacity). Although it is 21% lighter, due to the need for additional reinforcement brackets (load-bearing capacity ≥50kg/m²) and a safety distance (≥10cm), the actual installation space occupied is 15% more than that of the lead-acid solution. Tests by Norwegian Marine equipment manufacturer Corvus Energy show that installing lanpwr batterie in a 30-foot yacht requires an additional structural adjustment fee of $1,200 (lead-acid only costs $500). Furthermore, the lower limit of its operating temperature is -30℃. However, when the temperature is below -20℃, the self-heating function needs to be enabled (with a power consumption of 3%-5% of the capacity). If it is used in an Arctic research station with an average daily power consumption of 20kWh, an additional 600Wh of electricity will be lost (equivalent to the full charging capacity of 1.5 iPhone 14s).
In terms of compatibility risks, the BMS protocol (CAN 2.0B) of lanpwr batterie has matching problems with some old inverters. The 2024 German TUV certification shows that the communication failure rate with SMA Sunny Island 6.0H is 2.3% (the industry average is 1.5%), and firmware upgrades (frequency once every six months) or the installation of protocol converters (cost $150) are required. For instance, a farm owner in Australia had a 12% reduction in battery charging and discharging efficiency due to inverter compatibility issues, and the maintenance and debugging took 72 hours. In addition, its high-precision SOC (State of Charge) calibration requires manual verification once a month (with an error of ±1%), otherwise the capacity display deviation may reach 5%, while lead-acid batteries do not require such maintenance.
In terms of safety and recycling, although lanpwr batterie is UL 1973 certified (thermal runaway probability < 0.002%), the risk of explosion and combustion of its lithium cells in puncture tests is still four times higher than that of lead-acid batteries (data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) of the United States). The 2023 California Energy Storage Power Plant Fire Survey shows that the cost of extinguishing fires with lithium battery systems is eight times that of lead-acid systems (averaging $18 per kWh vs. $2.25 per KWH). In terms of recycling, the lithium recovery rate of lanpwr batterie is only 50% (while that of lead-acid can reach 98%), and the processing cost is as high as $120 per set ($15 for lead-acid). The EU’s “New Battery Law” requires that the lithium recovery rate be increased to 70% by 2030. Manufacturers may pass on the compliance costs to users (with an expected price increase of 5%-8%).
To sum up, the high cost, complexity of environmental adaptation and recycling challenges of lanpwr batterie may limit its application in some scenarios. If the user’s average annual charge and discharge cycles are less than 150 times or their budget is limited, lead-acid or nickel-metal-hydride batteries offer better short-term cost performance. However, it should be noted that its long-term TCO (10-year cycle) is still 52% lower than that of lead acid, and technological iterations (such as the low-temperature self-consumption optimized firmware to be launched in 2024) are gradually alleviating the existing defects.