10 Ways Your Customers Benefit from a Lithium-ion UPS

They provide a longer lifespan. With lithium-ion batteries in single-phase UPSs boasting a life expectancy of eight to 10 years, your customers will get a lot more bang for their buck from this technology. Lasting two to three times longer than traditional VRLA batteries–which typically need to be replaced after three to five years–lithium-ion is ideal for distributed, “edge” environments and light industrial applications ranging from healthcare to education.

They afford more runtime. In addition to a longer lifespan, lithium-ion UPS systems also provide 80% to 120% more runtime at full load compared to lead acid batteries.

They preserve valuable space. In applications where footprint matters, lithium-ion doesn’t disappoint. Providing a reduced size that’s also up to 40% lighter than VRLA, the batteries pack considerable punch within a small form factor. This makes them particularly attractive for today’s distributed IT environments, which support multiple facilities rather than one central IT hub. Furthermore, lithium-ion external battery modules (EBMs) provide additional runtime in a smaller footprint than VRLA batteries, enabling edge locations to achieve optimal power backup per square foot.

They enable customers to set it and forget it. Because its longer battery life allows for a “set it and forget it” approach that requires little on-site support from IT or maintenance personnel, lithium-ion batteries have emerged as a transformative innovation in edge environments. By pairing power management software and a network management card with a lithium-ion UPS, IT staff can perform a number of critical functions without having to deploy IT staff on site, including configuring prioritized shutdowns and automated restart protocols, scheduling daily/weekly reboots, and shutting down and rebooting frozen IT equipment–all of which can eliminate considerable expenses for an organization.

They ensure high reliability. As digital transformation reshapes workloads across nearly every industry and companies increasingly rely on distributed IT infrastructure to bring data closer to end users, the need for reliable backup power has never been more essential. Lithium-ion UPSs are answering the call–supporting greater business continuity and always-on power in environments with limited on-site IT resources, while simultaneously reducing risk throughout the lifecycle of the UPS. Some lithium-ion UPS models even come with a five-year warranty, compared to two years for the VRLA counterpart. Click on Page 2 to continue reading…

They boast proven technology. Lithium-ion is no longer the new kid on the block. With three-phase systems now in their second decade of safe, successful operation, and single-phase units having been widely deployed for the past three years, the technology is widely accepted in the marketplace. Many customers are now demanding the technology, which has been proven as an extremely stable option for UPS applications. Lithium-ion features a chemistry makeup that is much like the batteries found in today’s cellphones and laptops.

They help deliver advanced intelligence. In addition to maximizing a UPS system’s productivity, lithium-ion batteries possess capabilities for advanced intelligence that can help to improve efficiency across day-to-day operations. The ability to acquire new data insights into power equipment can help leaders make smarter, more timely decisions, as well as make it easier for IT staff to monitor the health and safety of their devices–shifting maintenance strategies from reactive to proactive.

They’re safe. Lithium-ion UPS batteries feature one of the safest chemistries available: lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which boasts a high thermal runaway temperature and tolerance to voltage variation. Peace of mind is further optimized by the presence of a battery management system (BMS), which monitors every cell and actively tracks temperature and charge voltage variation, state of charge, cycling and other metrics.

They are cost-comparable. Although the cost of lithium-ion was much higher than VRLA batteries when first introduced in the marketplace, prices have steadily declined over the years. While the upfront cost of lithium-ion UPSs now rings in at approximately 1.75 to 2 times the price of conventional UPSs, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is ultimately quite comparable—and, in some cases, lower, considering the batteries’ lifespan is at least twice that of VRLA.

They represent the future in UPS battery technology. Lithium-ion is far more than a passing fad. Make sure you don’t get left behind as customer demand continues to grow.