Lead-Acid vs Lithium Calculator
Compare total cost of ownership between lead-acid and lithium batteries.
Lead-Acid 10-Year TCO
$24,000.00
Lithium 10-Year TCO
$3,750.00
Inputs
kWh
$/kWh
$/kWh
Comparison
Lead-Acid Initial Cost
$3,000.00
Lithium Initial Cost
$3,750.00
Lead-Acid Cost/Cycle
$6.00
Lithium Cost/Cycle
$0.75
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Usable Energy Needed, Lead-Acid Cost, and Lithium Cost.
- Set Lead-Acid Cycle Life, Lithium Cycle Life, and Cycles per Year.
- Review Lead-Acid 10-Year TCO ($) and Lithium 10-Year TCO ($).
- Use Lead-Acid Initial Cost ($) and Lithium Initial Cost ($) to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Lead-Acid Cycle Life
| Lead-Acid Cycle Life | Lead-Acid 10-Year TCO | Lithium 10-Year TCO |
|---|---|---|
| 380 | $30,000.00 | $3,750.00 |
| 830 | $15,000.00 | $3,750.00 |
| 1,370 | $9,000.00 | $3,750.00 |
| 1,820 | $9,000.00 | $3,750.00 |
What each input means
- Usable Energy Needed
- Usable energy capacity required.
- Lead-Acid Cost
- Lead-acid battery cost per kWh of rated capacity.
- Lithium Cost
- Lithium battery cost per kWh of rated capacity.
- Lead-Acid Cycle Life
- Expected cycle life for lead-acid at typical DOD.
- Lithium Cycle Life
- Expected cycle life for lithium at typical DOD.
- Cycles per Year
- Average charge-discharge cycles per year.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersUsable Energy Needed = 10, Lead-Acid Cost = 150, Lithium Cost = 300, Lead-Acid Cycle Life = 500 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Lead-Acid 10-Year TCOLead-Acid 10-Year TCO24000 = $24,000
- Calculate Lithium 10-Year TCOLithium 10-Year TCO3750 = $3,750
- Calculate Lead-Acid Initial CostLead-Acid Initial Cost3000 = $3,000
- Calculate Lithium Initial CostLithium Initial Cost3750 = $3,750
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
Battery Storage
Battery Cycle Life Calculator
Estimate expected battery cycles from depth of discharge and chemistry.
Battery StorageBattery Capacity Calculator
Calculate amp-hours and watt-hours needed from load and runtime.
Battery StorageBattery Recycling Value Calculator
Estimate the recoverable material value from recycling a battery.
Electric VehiclesEV Battery Degradation Calculator
Estimate EV battery capacity loss based on charge cycles, temperature exposure, age, and charging habits. Predict replacement timeline.
More in Energy & Utilities.