Sealed Lead Acid vs. Lithium Batteries

Sealed lead acid and lithium batteries are used everyday around the world to power vehicles, machines, and technology. They both use a clever balance of chemicals to create an electric current which powers your device; how they vastly differ, however, is in the technologies and chemistry that they use. We’re going to delve further into sealed lead acid and lithium batteries, looking into which has the better battery life, which has the faster charging time, and whether you are able to swap between them.

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Battery Life

The length of time for which a battery holds charge is very important to know. Draining the battery too often by letting it deplete to 0% can hinder its performance and its ability to hold charge; this goes for both lithium and sealed lead acid batteries. Lead acid batteries are the larger of the two, meaning that they are often heavier and will take up more space during storage and transportation.

A lead acid battery tends to hold charge for longer than a lithium battery due to the capacity of electricity it can produce until it runs out, whereas a lithium-ion battery will carry on working at its peak performance for longer because the battery ages slower than a sealed lead acid version. The SLA batteries used by our Pro Rider golf trolleys last for 36 holes on the golf course whereas the lithium versions last for 18 holes.

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Charging Time

When it comes to a faster charging battery, you’d want to choose a lithium-ion battery. Sealed lead acid batteries require a trickle way of charging so that they aren’t overloaded or damaged, resulting in a longer charge time. Thanks to the low maintenance chemistry housed in the lithium cells, they don’t require the same slow method of charging, which means that you can have your lithium battery fully charged and ready to go way before the sealed lead acid battery.

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Can I Change My SLA for a Lithium Battery?

You can indeed change your SLA battery for a lithium battery. Batteries are all designed for the same reason, to provide electricity and power, so both battery types will work for the same item. However, it’s not as simple as just dropping the battery in and you’re done. We would recommend speaking to a professional and they will be able to find the ideal lithium-ion replacement for your sealed lead acid battery; the wrong choice could end in a battery that won’t work or that becomes faulty because it’s not properly suited to its device.