With the popularization of new energy vehicles, consumers face two main technologies when choosing batteries: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries and ternary lithium batteries. If you prioritize vehicle endurance and light weight, you might choose ternary lithium batteries. However, if safety is your primary concern, lithium iron phosphate batteries might be the better choice. So, are lithium iron phosphate batteries really safe?
Safety of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries
Lithium iron phosphate batteries are considered the safest cathode material among lithium-ion batteries. First, they do not contain any heavy metal elements harmful to the human body. Second, due to the difficulty of oxygen precipitation in their olivine structure, the material's stability is enhanced, reducing the risk of thermal runaway in high temperatures or overcharging situations.
The production process of lithium iron phosphate batteries is similar to that of other lithium batteries, including key steps such as batching, coating, rolling, cutting, and winding. During the batching process, the conductivity of lithium iron phosphate materials is relatively poor, so the particles are usually made smaller to ensure a more uniform internal arrangement. This helps form a balanced voltage platform, making the battery more stable during operation.
Safe Charging and Discharging of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries
Charging and discharging are the two basic operating states of lithium batteries. In the charging and discharging process of lithium iron phosphate batteries, due to the weak oxidation capacity of iron ions and the absence of oxygen release, it is difficult for them to undergo redox reactions with the electrolyte, ensuring a relatively safe charging and discharging environment. Even during high-rate discharge or overcharge and discharge, lithium iron phosphate batteries are unlikely to experience violent redox reactions.
Moreover, after lithium ions are deintercalated, the final volume of the unit cell decreases due to lattice changes, which offsets the increase in the volume of the carbon anode during the reaction. Therefore, lithium iron phosphate batteries can maintain the stability of their physical structure during charging and discharging, eliminating the risk of battery explosions caused by volume expansion.
Conclusion
In summary, lithium iron phosphate batteries, with their unique material structure and stable charging and discharging characteristics, are considered one of the safest lithium-ion batteries available. If your primary concern is battery safety, lithium iron phosphate batteries are undoubtedly a trustworthy choice.