Understanding Lithium Iron Battery Technology

Overview of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)

Lithium iron phosphate is a material for the cathode ions of lithium batteries, which are charged and discharged by moving lithium ions (Li⁺) back and forth between the positive and negative electrodes (embedding and de-intercalation).

The cathode material usually contains lithium (such as lithium cobalt oxide LiCoO₂, ternary material NCM/NCA, lithium iron phosphate LiFePO₄, etc.), and graphite or silicon-based materials are commonly used for the anode.

Lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP) as a popular lithium battery for the cathode of lithium batteries, with ultra-long life, high safety (acupuncture/overcharge non-flammable), low cost and other characteristics, lithium iron phosphate ion lithium batteries are widely used in energy storage and low-speed vehicles such as golf carts, commercial electric vehicles and other fields.

Lithium iron phosphate cells

Usually a standard lithium iron phosphate battery is called a cell, and each different cell has strict standards for nominal voltage, charge-discharge rate, capacity, etc.:

1. Cylindrical LFP Cells

Brand	Model / Format	Nominal Capacity & Notes
Contemporary Amperex (CATL)	Shenxing (2nd‑Gen) / 46145	175 Wh/kg energy density; 4C fast‑charge; used in EVs with >1,000 km range（Source： ft.com）
A123 Systems	26650	~2.5 Ah; ultralong cycle life for power tools & EVs
EVE Energy	32650	consumer & EV‑grade cylindrical cells
Murata Manufacturing	32650	primarily for consumer electronics and backup power
Ultralife Corporation	UBI20 (20 Ah)	Ruggedized cells for military/aviation applications

2. Prismatic LFP Cells

Brand	Model Example(s)	Nominal Capacity & Notes
EVE Energy	LF32 (32 Ah), LF105 (105 Ah), LF230 (230 Ah), LF280 (280 Ah), LF304 (304 Ah)	3.2 V; > 3,500 cycles @1C; used in ESS, RV, EV, AGV
China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB)	CA100 (100 Ah), CA150 (150 Ah), CA200 (200 Ah)	3.2 V prismatic; widely used in stationary storage & EVs
Guoxuan High‑Tech	GBS50 (50 Ah), GBS100 (100 Ah)	3.2 V; high‑power versions available
Lithium Werks	MIN150AHA (150 Ah)	modules & cells for commercial/industrial ESS
Tianneng Power	multiple prismatic ESS cells	focus on renewable energy storage
VTCBATT Battery	cylindrical & prismatic lines	top‑10 LFP manufacturer list

3. Pouch‑Style LFP Cells & “Blade” Format

Brand	Type / Model	Notes
BYD	Blade Battery	long‑prismatic pouch; high pack‑level safety & energy density (~160 Wh/kg)
CATL	Qilin / Freevoy Dual‑Power	hybrid pouch combining LFP + NMC in one pack kr-asia.com

Lithium iron phosphate battery pack

The battery pack is formed by the combination of different cells in series and parallel, and then the combination of BMS control version, shell, external communication interface and other technologies is added. The battery pack composed of lithium iron phosphate cells has a minimum voltage of 3.2V and a maximum voltage of several thousand volts (such as high-voltage energy storage applications), and the capacity starts from 15Ah, and the upper limit of the capacity of the battery system is constantly being broken.

Dimension	Lithium-ion cell	Lithium Battery Pack
Security	No protection, overcharge/overdischarge is easy to heat runaway	Because of BMS real-time monitoring + multiple protection (overvoltage/overcurrent/temperature), it can actively cut off the risk and prevent explosion and fire
Performance consistency	There is a ±5% difference in capacitance/internal resistance	Cell capacity and grouping, voltage balancing (passive/active balancing), capacity utilization rate increased by 10-20%.
Output capacity	Limited voltage/current (e.g. 3.7V/10A）	Series and parallel connection to achieve high voltage (such as 400V), high current (>500A), support high-power equipment (such as electric vehicles）
Structural protection	Fragile (soft pack is easy to puncture, cylinder is afraid of squeezing)	Metal shell/flame retardant material + shockproof design, impact-resistant, waterproof and dustproof (IP67).
Thermal management	No heat dissipation design, fast temperature rise	Integrated liquid-cooled/air-cooled pipeline, temperature control accuracy ±2°C, 50% longer life (high temperature is the first killer of life)
Ease of maintenance	Faults need to be detected and replaced one by one	Modular design, support single module replacement, reduce maintenance cost by 70%.

Applications of Lithium Iron Battery Packs

I. Stationary Energy Storage Systems

• Residential Low‑Voltage Storage (51.2 V systems)
• Commercial & Industrial Energy Storage
• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

II. Renewable Energy Storage Solutions

• Solar PV & Wind Energy Storage
• Microgrids & Off‑Grid Power Systems

III. Mobile & Vehicle Applications

1. RV & Camper

• RV Lithium Battery
• Solar RV Battery / Off‑Grid Power Battery
• Boondocking Power / Van Life Battery
• Typical Voltage: 12 V

2. Golf Carts & Specialty EVs

• Golf Cart Battery (36V / 48 V / 72 V)
• Electric Motorcycles (NCM chemistry)

3. Industrial Vehicles & Equipment

• Electric Forklifts (24 V / 36 V / 48 V / 80 V)
• Aerial Work Platform Batteries
• Floor Cleaning Machine Batteries (24 V / 36 V)

4. Marine & Trolling Motor

• Lithium Trolling Motor Battery
• Marine Lithium Battery

IV. Other Electric Vehicles

• Electric sightseeing carts, patrol vehicles, floor‑scrubbers, etc.

Maintenance and Safety Tips

Proper Installation: Because the battery pack is directly or rarely connected in series between the battery packs, the voltage and capacity of the battery pack can be used directly in the equipment, so the installation is very simple, only the positive and negative poles need to be connected to the equipment that needs the battery to replace the original battery, and the specific installation needs to communicate with the merchant for comparison.

Regular Maintenance Practices：Lithium batteries are maintenance-free, no need to add water, and the battery pack has BMS, which can prevent short circuits, overvoltage, overcurrent, overtemperature, etc. Use the battery merchant’s original charger for charging to prolong battery life.

Safety Measures in Handling: The battery pack generally has a shell, which can reach IP67, and the specific waterproof level depends on different schemes. However, please do not keep the device with the battery pack in a humid environment, an overheated environment outdoors. Do not connect the positive and negative poles incorrectly (although the BMS of the VTC battery can also prevent the positive and negative poles from being reversed).

Common FAQs：

Q: What are the main differences between Lithium‑Ion (e.g. NMC/NCA) and Lithium‑Iron‑Phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries?

A: Refer to the article: Differences Between Lithium Ion and Lithium Iron

• Chemistry & Safety: Li‑Ion uses lithium metal oxides (Ni, Co, Mn, Al) and has higher fire risk; LiFePO₄ uses iron‑phosphate, is thermally stable and much less prone to thermal runaway.
• Energy Density: Li‑Ion offers ~150–300 Wh/kg (better for weight-sensitive uses); LiFePO₄ delivers ~90–180 Wh/kg.
• Cycle Life: Li‑Ion typically endures 1 000–2 500 cycles; LiFePO₄ lasts 3 000–10 000+ cycles, lowering total‐cost‐of‐ownership.
• Temperature Performance: Li‑Ion maintains capacity better at low temperatures (down to –20 °C); LiFePO₄ excels in high‑temperature stability but loses capacity more in the cold.
• Cost & Applications: Li‑Ion’s nickel/cobalt raises cost—ideal for EVs, drones, electronics; LiFePO₄’s iron/phosphate is cheaper and favored for ESS, UPS, EV conversions, e‑forklifts, and other long‑life, high‑safety scenarios.

Q: What shapes (formats) do LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cells come in, and what are their pros and cons?

A:

Cylindrical Cells (e.g. 18650, 26650, 32700)

• Advantages: Mature manufacturing, good consistency, easier for modular packs and replacement.

• Disadvantages: Lower packing density in large systems (more gaps, less space-efficient).

Prismatic Cells

• Advantages: Higher volumetric energy density, simpler to connect in large battery banks, often chosen for golf carts, forklifts, and home energy storage.

• Disadvantages: Slightly more sensitive to impact or swelling; if one fails, harder to replace just a cell.

Pouch (Soft Pack) Cells & Blade Cells

• Advantages: Very flexible in size/shape design, can achieve ultra-thin profiles (used by BYD in EVs for blade battery).

• Disadvantages: Typically require rigid casing to protect from swelling or mechanical damage.

👉 In short:

• Use cylindrical for small modular or power tool applications.
• Choose prismatic for large-capacity systems like golf carts, forklifts, solar ESS.
• Go with pouch/blade for space-critical or high-voltage automotive packs.

Q：What‘s main BMS manufacturers that support LiFePO₄ (LFP) cells?

A: 🇨🇳 Leading Chinese BMS Brands

✅ JBD (Jiabaide)

• Specialist in compact BMS designs, widely used for e-bikes, scooters, small home energy systems.
• Offers multiple 3S–32S models, supports Bluetooth, RS485, CAN communication.

✅ DALY

• One of the largest exporters, very popular in DIY lithium battery conversions.
• Supports LiFePO₄, NMC, LTO chemistries, covering 3S–32S, with balancing, short/over-charge and discharge protection.

✅ Linghang BMS

• Focused on high-current and industrial energy storage, supports 100A, 200A, 300A+ applications.

✅ Ant BMS (Xiao Mayi / Little Ant)

• Well-known smart BMS brand, common in RVs and solar systems. Offers LCD displays, CAN bus, and Bluetooth app monitoring.

✅ SmartBMS (Yinfengteng, Youtai, etc.)

• Multiple Shenzhen-based manufacturers producing dedicated LiFePO₄ boards, widely supporting 48V/51.2V/72V battery systems.

 

 

🌍 International & High-End Industrial BMS

✅ Orion BMS (USA)

• Full support for LiFePO₄, widely used in EVs, forklifts, and large-scale storage, with CAN and thermal management.

✅ REC BMS (Norway)

• Very popular in RV & marine markets, offers extensive LiFePO₄ support and PC software tools for tuning.

✅ Ewert Energy (USA)

• Main producer of Orion BMS in North America, focuses on custom power and storage systems.

✅ Elithion (USA)

• Modular, customizable BMS systems, compatible with various LiFePO₄ string configurations.

With more than 20 years of accumulation, VTCBATT has always led the industry in the field of LiFePO₄ battery packs and overall lithium battery solutions with BMS. From golf carts to electric forklifts to large-scale photovoltaic energy storage systems, we offer tailor-made, market-proven solutions. Whether you are a dealer looking to improve the range and performance of your vehicles, or an energy operator who needs a stable, long-life energy storage platform, VTCBATT can bring the best cost performance and worry-free after-sales experience to all kinds of customers with strict quality control and localized rapid response.

Contact us today and let VTCBATT help you turn your needs into strength and open a new era of reliable, efficient and green power!