Application Watch: Harnessing LiFePO₄ batteries for consumer, service & industrial robots

by Vianie Li & Cecile de Veyra

Enhanced capacity, temperature performance and safety, quick charging and discharging at high currents, and long operating life make lightweight LiFePO₄ batteries the power source of choice for robotics. Compared to Li-polymer types, LFP units can guarantee greater stability and a longer life span, especially suited for high-mobility service, entertainment, education and explosive ordnance disposal robots. These have also replaced lead-acid batteries in the domain of industrial robotics, which, although powered by the electrical grid, requires backup power supplies to ensure uninterrupted operation.

To meet increasingly high requirements in this application, manufacturers in China are focusing R&D efforts on boosting LiFePO₄ battery performance. Dongguan Large, for instance, has introduced 54Ah-rated batteries for robotics, which use TI data transmission chips and RS 4485 interface. Specifications include 22.4V rated voltage, 25.2V and 5.4A charging voltage and current, 10A discharging current and less than 200mohm internal resistance. Charge and discharge temperature is -20 to 60 C.

China is the world's biggest robotics market. It reached $8.68 billion in 2019 and posted nearly 21 percent CAGR from 2014 to 2019, according to Elecfans. Industrial robotics accounted for $5.73 billion, service robots $2.2 billion and special types $750 million.

Globally, the value was about $34 billion in the same year, according to iGATE Research. This is expected to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted demand for industrial robots but piqued interest in service robots used to minimize human contact and risk of disease transmission.

From this market, an annual sales increase of more than 15 percent is likely in LiFePO₄ batteries in the next two years, according to manufacturers interviewed by Global Sources Electronic Components.

Besides LFP battery performance, lowering prices are contributing to greater adoption across different applications. The category's market in China is estimated at $3.08 billion in 2020, rising 7.5 percent YoY, according to Sohu News. In 2021, this is projected to increase to $3.82 billion, posting a 24 percent growth rate.

Shenzhen Continent Technology Co. Ltd, whose LiFePO₄ batteries for robotics represent 5 percent of total shipments, is looking forward to a 10 percent rise in sales in the next 12 months.

There are hundreds of manufacturers of LFP batteries in China. Over half offer products for robotics applications, which represent between 5 and 30 percent of most companies' total shipments. For others, the share is as high as 60 to 80 percent. Contacted suppliers predict this ratio will increase steadily in the coming years.

Besides robotics, LiFePO₄ batteries are also used in electric vehicles and power storage systems.

More than 70 percent of the manufacturers are based in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta regions, and the Bohai Bay Rim Economic Region. The key city locations include Shenzhen, Dongguan, Changzhou, Suzhou, Beijing and Tianjin. There are also suppliers in central China.

These areas are expected to attract more investments, including from abroad, amid upbeat projections for the LFP battery category, and intensify competition in the years ahead.

Batteries & packs

China's typical LiFePO₄ batteries and battery packs for robotics applications come in variants with a rated capacity of 2,200mAh to 30Ah, a rated voltage of 3.7 to 48V and a life span of up to 2,000 cycles. These are widely used in home, entertainment and service robots.

Manufacturers also offer types for medical products, electric vehicles and power storage systems.

To broaden market reach, suppliers will continue to pursue development of batteries with higher capacity and greater reliability, and enhance their customization capability to match any requirement.

Key inputs such as cathode and anode materials, electrolytes, separators, aluminum foil and cases are obtained domestically unless buyers specify other sources.

The cost of materials and components remained flat in the past 12 months, but the price of LiFePO₄ batteries and battery packs decreased slightly due to intense competition and technology upgrades. This trend is expected to persist in 2021.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China market analyst for representing current trends in LiFePO₄ batteries from China makers.

LiFePO₄ battery, 3,800mAh rated capacity

This 3,800mAh-rated LiFePO₄ battery from Dongguan Wiltson New Energy Technology Co. Ltd, the IFR26650-3.8Ah-8906, has 3.2V rated voltage, 5A maximum charge and discharge current, and 2 and 3C charge and discharge rates. It lasts more than 2,000 cycles.

The 50-unit minimum order is delivered within seven days.

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1,920Wh LiFePO₄ battery

Model MC-LFP12.8V150Ah1.92KWh-3645 from Mica Power Co. Ltd is a 150Ah LiFePO₄ battery with 12.8V nominal and 10.4 to 14.4V operating voltages, and 1,920Wh energy. It has 50A maximum charge, 100A maximum continuous discharge current, and 200A burst current at 10sec. The charge and discharge operating temperatures are 0 to 55 C and -20 to 60 C.

The IP65-rated unit, with built-in cell-balance correction, and overcharge, -discharge, -current and -temperature protection, has more than 3,000-cycle life span at 25 C and C10.

The minimum order is 10 units, and delivery is within 15 days.

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72Ah LiFePO₄ battery

From Shenzhen Continent Technology Co. Ltd, this model 72Ah LiFePO₄ battery has 3.2V nominal voltage and more than 2,000-cycle life span. Charge and discharge temperatures are 0 to 45 and -20 to 55 C.

The order quantity is negotiable. Delivery lead time is seven days.

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16Ah-rated LiFePO₄ battery

Rated at 16Ah, this GSF46160P-16 LiFePO₄ battery from Zhejiang Gushen Energy Technology Co. Ltd has 3.2V rated voltage, ≤1.5mohm internal resistance, and -20 to 45 C charge and -20 to 60 C discharge operating temperatures.

The minimum order is negotiable. Delivery takes seven days.

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