What is the difference between an EV dry cell battery and vented flooded battery?

The world of batteries is filled with jargon and terminologies that are used to classify them in terms of their characteristics and features.

 

In many cases, different terms are used for the same thing. This can get confusing.

 

We understand that it can be challenging for some customers to differentiate between similar terms, so to help out. This article will look at the differences between an EV dry cell battery and a Vented flooded battery.

 

We will compare their basic characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, maintenance, best practices, and their applications.

 

Let's start with the EV dry cell battery. The EV here stands for electric vehicle and dry cell indicates that it does not possess a liquid electrolyte inside the battery. The electrolyte is not in a liquid form and is termed AGM – absorbed glass mat – whereby the liquid electrolyte is absorbed into glass mat separators.

 

Application of an EV dry cell:

Primarily used as the battery that powers electric vehicles. It is expected that the use of EV dry cell batteries will increase with the growth of the electric car industry.

These are some general maintenance tips to follow when it comes to an EV dry cell battery.

As mentioned earlier, high temperatures can cause permanent damage to them, so it is best to ensure that they are kept at relatively moderate temperatures.

Having seen what the EV dry cell battery entailed, let's now turn our attention to the flooded batteries.

 

A Flooded battery is another name for the highly popular lead-acid battery. These batteries make use of lead plates and liquid electrolytes (normally sulfuric acid) that moves freely within the battery (hence the term flooded).

 

Lead-acid batteries are perhaps the most common batteries in our everyday life. They are quite versatile and can be designed as either an SLI/automotive battery or a deep cycle battery. By making changes to its construction, it can either provide a short burst of high magnitude current or a steady current for longer periods.

 

Lead-acid batteries are used for a vast number of applications. They are used in cars as starter batteries and are used as leisure batteries in boats, RV's and Caravans. They also provide power to wheelchairs, scooters, golf carts, and other mobility devices.

 

Lead-acid batteries also serve as the backup power supply in uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems and can be used in conjunction with solar panels as well.

 

Lead-acid batteries can be described as a family of batteries because they come in many different variants. These include the sealed or maintenance-free lead-acid batteries as well as the Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries. The main difference between VRLA and a standard vented lead acid battery is that they do not require the monitoring of electrolyte levels.

 

VRLA batteries have 2 further sub-categories, AGM batteries, and Gel batteries. Each has its benefits and can work well in different situations.

VRLA Gel batteries store the electrolyte in a gel with the help of silicon, while AGM batteries use glass mats as the electrolyte storage component.

 

Looking at the benefits and drawbacks of lead-acid batteries

In general, one of its biggest selling points is the fact that they are relatively cheap and readily available. For the paid price, you will get a reliable battery that fulfills its job properly.

 

Not being the most advanced battery when it comes to technology, they can be quite heavy and do not offer the best energy density. Furthermore, since lead is a toxic metal, it is not the most eco-friendly either.

 

Lead-acid batteries do not require much maintenance and with some basic maintenance and usage tips, you are bound to get the most out of them.

 

Prevent deep discharge/charge cycles by maintaining the charge levels of the battery.

Protect the battery from heat as it can damage the battery and create a potential fire hazard.

When storing, do so after ensuring the battery is charged and grease has been applied on its terminals and make sure it is stored in a cool dry place.

 

BatteryPower Zone is on a mission to ensure that our clients are all well informed. We know that in this day and age it’s also best to make purchase decisions on the back of a good understanding and we hope that the above has shed some light on the "jargon" used in our industry.