Flux Power

We at Flux Power pride ourselves in being experts in energy storage solutions. This is why we chose a superior battery chemistry that has been proven through decades of research and deployment in multiple applications. In addition our energy storage solutions have numerous advantages over current lead-acid technology.

Capacity & Cycle Life

One of the most important benefits of Flux Power’s choice of lithium is the dramatic increase in energy density over current lead-acid battery solutions.  Flux Power uses Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4) which has a specific energy of ~110 watt-hours per kilogram, compared to lead-acids ~40 watt-hours per kilogram.  What does this mean?  Our batteries can be ~1/3 the weight for similar amp-hour ratings.

Not only does Flux Power lithium store more energy, but the cycle-lifetime far exceeds that of lead-acid and many other lithium chemistries.

Every battery cell chemistry is affected by the depth of discharge, and the deeper the discharge, the shorter the lifespan.  Flux Power lithium can be discharged a remarkable 80% while still maintaining long cycle lifetimes (>2000 cycles).  Lead-acid batteries experience drastic reductions in cycle life.  In fact, at an 80% depth of discharge, lead-acid batteries only last 400-500 cycles, meaning our batteries last 5x longer.

Speed & Efficiency

Flux Power Lithium batteries are fast. They can be fast charged completely, and can handle ultra-fast charging up to 1C (a full charge in 1 hour). Lead-acid can only be fast-charged up to 80% after which charging current drops dramatically. In addition Flux Power batteries maintain excellent performance under discharge rates as high as 3C continuous (full discharge in 1/3 an hour) or 5C pulsed. Lead-acid experiences dramatic voltage sag and capacity reduction by comparison. In fact, the discharge profile of a Flux Power lithium battery shows how voltage and power remain almost constant throughout its discharge, unlike lead-acid. This means that even when the battery runs low, performance stays high.

There are also no memory issues, discharge and charge the battery at any point without consequence.  With lead-acid, failure to fully charge leads to sulfation which damages the batteries.  This also occurs when storing lead-acid while not fully charged.  With Flux Power Lithium, store the battery at any state of charge except near zero.

Finally, Flux Power Lithium is ~95% energy efficient, compared to the ~80% efficiency for lead acid batteries.  This is particularly important for solar energy storage solutions, where every bit counts.

Do you need to charge your batteries on the go?  Our batteries perform better when charging during breaks in the day.  Running Flux Power lithium batteries using ‘opportunity charging’ can actually increase cycle lifetime and decrease the battery size.

Safety & Reliability

There are a wide variety of chemistries to choose from when looking at advanced lithium batteries. We chose Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4) because it has three advantages that make it the obvious choice for tough jobs.

1. It is thermally stable up to very high temperatures, meaning no thermal runaway.  The batteries can be used safely in ambient temperatures up to 55°C (131°F).  Operating lead-acid batteries at this temperature reduces their cycle life by a whopping 80%!
2. Flux Power Lithium provides remarkably long cycle lifetimes, with competing chemistries being either too expensive (Lithium Titanate), or too unstable (Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide).
3. LiFePO4 provides more power and more energy density than lead-acid and many other lithium chemistries, so it’s perfect for demanding jobs, and efficient energy storage solutions.

Did we mention Flux Power Lithium is maintenance free?  No electrolyte must be added and there is no danger of acid spills or dangerous vapors.  In our case studies, fewer batteries were needed when compared to lead-acid, so even less storage room may be required.

Battery Management System

All of our energy storage solutions use our patented Battery Management System (BMS) which monitors the battery life and provides valuable information to the end user. The system uses a Battery Management System Module (BMSM) to monitor up to 4 individual LiFePO4 cells. The BMSMs then report to the Battery Control Module (BCM), which can manage up to 28 BMSMs. This means Flux Power Lithium is a scalable solution for almost any application.

A state of charge LED indicator tells the end user how much energy is left in the pack, and can display a number of diagnostic codes for monitoring battery and system health. It will also notify the user if recommended operating temperature is exceeded, or if battery servicing is required. In addition a warning buzzer sounds when the battery is close to empty, so you’ll know when to plug it in.

When the battery charges, the BMS performs an auto-balancing of the cells near the top of charge, and notifies the end user when finished.  This auto-balancing feature is a vital component, and enables the end user to get the longest cycle lifetime and best performance out of our batteries.  At times balancing may be required.  In these cases, the LED indicator notifies the end user and the system should be fully charged until all cells are balanced.  Finally, if for any reason you need to interface with the BMS, it uses the robust automotive standard CAN protocol.

Design

Each Flux Power Lithium battery also includes an onboard charger and enough storage room for a 25 ft. charging cable.  The battery can be charged anywhere and anytime, perfect for opportunity charging.  The cases are made from 10 gauge powder coated A36 steel and our LiFT pack is designed to be pressure washed daily.  In case of power surges a breaker for shorts and over-currents is installed to protect the battery’s vitals.  Finally because Flux Power Lithium is so much lighter than lead-acid, we can adjust the weight of Flux Power Lithium to meet your needs.

Environment

The health of the environment and one’s employees is important, which is why it’s great Flux Power Lithium batteries use no toxic chemicals, acids, or heavy metals.  The materials are harmless and can be disposed of in landfills.  This is not necessary of course, as recycling methods are currently being developed, with reports of 60% recyclability.  Lithium batteries are the future of energy storage, and recycling efficiencies are predicted to climb to 90% as the markets scale and additional recycling methods are developed.

Lead-acid batteries have a very mature recycling industry with ~96% of the battery being recycled. However they don’t last nearly as long, so during the lifetime of one Flux Power Lithium battery, five lead-acid batteries have been made and recycled, equating to 20% of a single lead-acid battery being wasted, not to mention the carbon footprint from the production and recycling of all five lead-acid batteries.

Carbon footprints are important, and procuring raw materials can be damaging to the environment.  Lithium is obtained almost exclusively from brine pools.  It’s cheap, safe, and far less damaging to local ecosystems than other forms of mining.  So no matter what your business is, or what your needs are, Flux Power Lithium batteries are the best solution for staying green and competitive in today’s world.