What is Lithium Battery Company?
LBC designs custom LFP and NMC battery packs for OEM and industrial equipment. Catalog reference designs start at 10 units; custom designs start at 25 units.
Lithium Battery Company · OEM Battery Programs
Lithium Battery Pack FAQ
Lithium Battery Company supplies 12V–144V+ LFP and NMC battery designs (3.7–768V, 1.5–720Ah) for faq. CANbus, RS485 and SMBus options are reviewed per design. Catalog programs start at 10 units; custom designs at 25. OEM delivery covers the United States, Canada, and Mexico with UN 38.3 transport documentation.
Answers about custom lithium battery packs, chemistry, BMS design, testing, production volumes, and quoting.
From requirements to qualified volume production
LBC manages battery engineering, supplier selection, production, quality control, and delivery for OEM, industrial, defense, and commercial programs. Start with the application, voltage, load, runtime, available space, environment, communications, compliance needs, first-order quantity, and expected annual volume.
Catalog orders begin at 10 units and custom programs begin at 25 units. LBC supplies volume OEM programs. Final performance, sourcing, pricing, testing, and delivery commitments are confirmed for each program.
Lithium battery program questions
How can I contact Lithium Battery Company?
LBC supports custom LFP and NMC battery pack design and manufacturing for OEM volume programs. Send your application, technical requirements and quantities through the contact form.
Is Lithium Battery Company a manufacturer, distributor, or sourcing partner?
LBC designs custom LFP and NMC battery packs for OEM and industrial equipment. Catalog reference designs start at 10 units; custom designs start at 25 units.
What is the minimum order quantity for battery packs?
The minimum order quantity is 10 units for standard catalog reference designs and 25 units for custom configurations. Volume pricing depends on the approved specification, first order, annual forecast, component sources, quality requirements, production path, and delivery terms.
How long does a custom battery pack quote take?
Test planning is confirmed per program, based on the approved design and market requirements. Discuss the required documentation with LBC before specifying a pack.
What battery chemistries does Lithium Battery Company offer?
Lithium Battery Company specializes in LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) and NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery pack chemistries. LFP offers superior thermal stability, 3,000–6,000+ cycle life, and is ideal for defense, telecom, AGV, and industrial OEM applications. NMC delivers maximum energy density (150–250 Wh/kg) and is preferred for UAV, aerospace, and weight-critical programs.
What is the difference between LFP and NMC battery chemistry?
LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) has a 3.2V nominal cell voltage and is generally favored for cycle life and thermal stability. NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) uses a higher nominal cell voltage and is often favored when energy density and weight are the dominant constraints. Actual performance and safety depend on cell quality, design, BMS, thermal controls, charging, enclosure, and operating conditions.
Which battery chemistry has the longest cycle life?
LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) has the longest cycle life of any commercial lithium chemistry, delivering 3,000–6,000+ cycles to 80% capacity. NMC delivers 500–2,000 cycles. For applications with daily cycling — telecom backup, AGV, energy storage — LFP's cycle life dramatically reduces total cost of ownership over the product lifecycle.
Which battery chemistry is safest?
LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) is the safest commercial lithium battery chemistry. LFP cells do not enter thermal runaway under abuse conditions including overcharge, over-discharge, external short circuit, puncture, and mechanical damage. The iron-phosphate cathode is thermally stable up to approximately 270°C. NMC cells can enter thermal runaway at 150–210°C under abuse conditions.
What is the nominal voltage of LFP vs NMC cells?
LFP cells have a nominal voltage of 3.2V per cell. A 48V LFP pack uses 16 cells in series (16S × 3.2V = 51.2V nominal). NMC cells have a nominal voltage of 3.6–3.7V per cell. A 48V NMC pack uses 13 cells in series (13S × 3.7V = 48.1V nominal). This voltage difference affects pack configuration and BMS design.
What is LFP battery chemistry?
LFP stands for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4). It is a lithium battery chemistry that uses iron phosphate as the cathode material. LFP delivers 3.2V nominal cell voltage, 90–160 Wh/kg energy density, 3,000–6,000+ cycle life, and exceptional thermal stability. It is the preferred chemistry for stationary, vehicle-mounted, and safety-critical applications.
What is NMC battery chemistry?
NMC stands for Nickel Manganese Cobalt oxide. It is a lithium battery chemistry that uses a nickel-manganese-cobalt cathode. NMC delivers 3.6–3.7V nominal cell voltage, 150–250 Wh/kg energy density, and 500–2,000 cycle life. Common formulations include NMC 622, NMC 811, and NMC 111. NMC is the preferred chemistry for weight-critical applications like UAV, drones, and portable devices.
Is LFP better than NMC?
LFP is better than NMC for applications requiring long cycle life, thermal stability, and safety — such as telecom backup, AGV, defense ground vehicles, and stationary energy storage. NMC is better for applications where weight is the primary constraint — such as UAV, drones, and portable devices. Neither is universally better; the correct choice depends on your application requirements.
What is LiFePO4?
LiFePO4 is the chemical formula for Lithium Iron Phosphate, commonly abbreviated as LFP. It refers to the cathode material in LFP battery cells. LFP is commonly selected for thermal stability, long cycle life, and durable OEM applications. LBC engineers and sources qualified LiFePO4 battery programs, with final performance determined by the selected cells, BMS, pack design, and validation plan.
Does every battery pack include a BMS?
Yes. Every battery pack from Lithium Battery Company ships with a matched Battery Management System (BMS) that includes cell balancing, over-current protection, over-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, and state-of-charge (SOC) estimation. The BMS is standard on every configuration — never an add-on.
What does a battery management system (BMS) do?
A Battery Management System (BMS) monitors and protects a lithium battery pack. It prevents overcharge, over-discharge, over-current, short circuit, and over-temperature conditions. It balances cell voltages to equalize state of charge across all cells. It estimates state of charge (SOC) for fuel gauge functionality. Smart BMS options provide CAN bus or RS485 communication for external system integration.
What is cell balancing in a BMS?
Cell balancing equalizes the state of charge across all cells in a battery pack. Without balancing, cell-to-cell capacity variations accumulate over cycles, causing the pack to hit protection limits at a lower capacity than the sum of individual cells. Passive balancing dissipates excess energy from higher-charge cells as heat. Active balancing transfers energy between cells for higher efficiency.
Do your battery packs support CAN bus communication?
Yes. Lithium Battery Company offers smart BMS options with CAN bus communication for AGV, industrial, and defense applications. CAN bus BMS provides real-time state of charge, cell voltage, temperature, and fault data for integration with fleet management systems and vehicle control units. RS485/Modbus is also available for telecom and industrial applications.
What is state of charge (SOC) in a battery?
State of Charge (SOC) is the percentage of energy remaining in a battery pack relative to its full capacity — the battery's fuel gauge. A 100% SOC means fully charged; 0% means fully discharged. BMS systems estimate SOC using coulomb counting (integrating current over time) and voltage-based estimation. Accurate SOC estimation is critical for preventing over-discharge and for operational planning.
How are defense test requirements handled?
Test planning is confirmed per program, based on the approved design and market requirements. Discuss the required documentation with LBC before specifying a pack.
What battery chemistry is best for military ground vehicles?
LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) is the preferred chemistry for military ground vehicle applications. LFP's thermal stability — cells do not enter thermal runaway under abuse conditions — is a critical safety requirement for vehicle-mounted batteries. LFP also delivers 3,000–6,000 cycle life for reduced logistics burden in deployed environments. NMC is preferred for weight-critical soldier power and UAV applications.
What is the best battery chemistry for a UAV or drone?
NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) is the best chemistry for most UAV and drone applications because it delivers the highest energy density — 150–250 Wh/kg — which minimizes pack weight for a given energy requirement. Every gram saved in battery weight increases payload capacity and flight time. LFP is only recommended for UAV applications where cycle life is more important than weight.
What C-rate do UAV battery packs need?
Most UAV applications require sustained discharge rates of 5–20C, with peak rates of 30–50C during aggressive maneuvers or takeoff. C-rate is the ratio of discharge current to pack capacity — a 10Ah pack at 100A is discharging at 10C. Always design with C-rate margin: if your application requires 15C sustained, select cells rated for 20C or higher to prevent degradation.
Can you manufacture custom form factor UAV battery packs?
Yes. Lithium Battery Company engineers custom UAV battery packs to your exact dimensional and electrical requirements. We design custom enclosures, connector interfaces, and pack configurations for fixed-wing, multirotor, and VTOL platforms. Tool-free field replacement designs are available for high-tempo operational programs. Contact us with your form factor requirements for a custom quote.
How long do LFP telecom batteries last compared to VRLA?
LFP telecom batteries last 10–15 years in service, delivering 3,000–6,000+ charge cycles before reaching 80% of original capacity. VRLA lead-acid batteries in the same application typically last 3–5 years. Over a 15-year period, a telecom operator will replace VRLA batteries 3–5 times versus once for LFP, making LFP significantly more cost-effective on a total cost of ownership basis.
Are 48V LFP packs a direct drop-in replacement for VRLA at cell towers?
In most cases, yes. Lithium Battery Company's 48V LFP packs are designed as direct drop-in replacements for VRLA lead-acid batteries in standard telecom cabinet infrastructure. The key compatibility requirements are: rectifier float voltage set to 54.4–54.8V (most modern telecom rectifiers support this), and low voltage disconnect set to 44.8V. No cabinet modifications are required in most installations.
What voltage are telecom backup batteries?
The standard voltage class for telecom backup power is 48V nominal. A common LFP architecture uses 16 cells in series for 51.2V nominal, but compatibility still depends on the rectifier settings, low-voltage disconnect, load, runtime, cabinet, communications, and environment. LBC confirms those requirements before sourcing a qualified telecom battery program.
What is opportunity charging for AGV batteries?
Opportunity charging is a strategy where the AGV battery is charged during short breaks in operation — loading/unloading stops, shift changes — rather than waiting for a full discharge cycle. LFP chemistry tolerates partial state-of-charge cycling without degradation, making it ideal for opportunity charging. NMC and other lithium chemistries degrade faster when cycled at partial state of charge.
What voltage AGV battery programs can LBC support?
LBC can engineer and source AGV battery programs in 24V, 36V, 48V, and custom voltage classes. The correct configuration depends on the motor drive, current demand, duty cycle, charging strategy, communications, and available envelope. Chemistry and CAN bus support are selected for the program rather than assumed for every pack.
How are test and documentation requirements handled?
Test planning is confirmed per program, based on the approved design and market requirements. Discuss the required documentation with LBC before specifying a pack.
What transport testing does a lithium pack need?
Test planning is confirmed per program, based on the approved design and market requirements. Discuss the required documentation with LBC before specifying a pack.
How does LBC manage production for OEM programs?
LBC designs custom LFP and NMC battery packs for OEM and industrial equipment. Catalog reference designs start at 10 units; custom designs start at 25 units.
What cell formats does Lithium Battery Company work with?
LBC can support cylindrical cells in formats including 18650, 21700, 26650, 32700, 40132, and 46800, as well as prismatic and pouch-cell programs. The final cell format and production partner are selected based on power, energy, dimensions, thermal behavior, lifecycle, availability, compliance, and volume.
Why are OEMs switching from Chinese battery suppliers?
Many OEMs are diversifying battery supply because of tariff uncertainty, sourcing restrictions, long logistics chains, quality variation, and single-source risk. The right response is program-specific: LBC can compare qualified production options, document approved sources, and build a staged transition plan around cost, compliance, capacity, and continuity.
Can Lithium Battery Company replace my current Chinese battery supplier?
Often, yes. LBC's 389 proven reference designs cover many common battery architectures. We first review the incumbent pack, equipment interface, load, charger, dimensions, communications, environment, compliance needs, failure history, and expected volume. Some programs can use a close reference design; others require a controlled redesign and validation plan.
What are the tariffs on Chinese battery imports?
Tariff treatment for batteries and components changes with product classification, chemistry, country of origin, effective date, and government action. LBC models the current landed-cost assumptions for each sourcing path, but customers should confirm final classifications and duties with their customs and trade-compliance advisers before purchase.
What voltage range do your battery packs cover?
Lithium Battery Company builds battery packs from 3V (single-cell) to 1,000V+ for container-scale energy storage systems. Our catalog covers common OEM voltages including 3.7V, 7.4V, 11.1V, 12V, 14.4V, 24V, 36V, 48V, 51.2V, 72V, 96V, 144V, and large-format ESS configurations. Custom voltages are available through our Battery Configurator.
What is the cycle life of LFP battery packs?
LFP battery packs from Lithium Battery Company deliver 3,000–6,000+ cycles to 80% of original capacity under standard cycling conditions (0.5C charge, 1C discharge, 25°C). Cycle life varies based on depth of discharge, temperature, and charge/discharge rate. Shallow cycling (e.g., 50% depth of discharge) can extend cycle life to 10,000+ cycles.
What is the energy density of LFP vs NMC battery packs?
LFP battery packs deliver 90–160 Wh/kg at the pack level (cell-level: 90–160 Wh/kg). NMC battery packs deliver 150–250 Wh/kg at the pack level (cell-level: 150–250 Wh/kg). NMC provides 30–40% more energy per kilogram than LFP. For a UAV requiring 1 kWh, an NMC pack might weigh 5–7 kg vs 7–11 kg for an equivalent LFP pack.
What is the self-discharge rate of lithium battery packs?
LFP battery packs have a self-discharge rate of approximately 2–3% per month at room temperature. NMC battery packs have a slightly higher self-discharge rate of approximately 3–5% per month. Both are significantly lower than lead-acid batteries (5–15% per month) and NiMH batteries (20–30% per month). Lithium battery packs can be stored for 6–12 months without significant capacity loss.
What is the operating temperature range for lithium battery packs?
Standard LFP battery packs operate from -20°C to +60°C for discharge and 0°C to +45°C for charging. Standard NMC battery packs operate from -20°C to +60°C for discharge and 0°C to +45°C for charging. Extended temperature range options are available for defense and industrial applications requiring operation below -20°C or above 60°C.
What is the difference between series and parallel cell configurations?
In a series (S) configuration, cells are connected positive-to-negative to increase voltage. 4 cells in series (4S) at 3.2V each = 12.8V nominal. In a parallel (P) configuration, cells are connected positive-to-positive to increase capacity. 2 cells in parallel (2P) at 10Ah each = 20Ah total. Most battery packs use a combination — for example, 16S2P means 16 cells in series, 2 in parallel.
What is C-rate for a battery?
C-rate is the rate of charge or discharge relative to the battery's capacity. A 1C discharge rate means the battery discharges its full capacity in 1 hour. A 2C rate discharges in 30 minutes. A 0.5C rate discharges in 2 hours. For a 10Ah battery: 1C = 10A, 2C = 20A, 10C = 100A. High C-rate capability is critical for UAV and high-power applications.
What is the minimum order?
Catalog reference designs start at 10 units; custom designs start at 25 units.
How long does a custom pack take?
Lead times run from weeks to months depending on design scope, cells, validation and volume. We confirm the schedule in your quote.
Which chemistries do you build?
LiFePO4 (LFP) and NMC lithium-ion. See chemistries.
Can you replace a lead-acid battery?
Yes, with a lithium pack designed for your voltage window, charger and space. See lead-acid replacement and LiFePO4 vs lead-acid for industrial equipment.
Do you sell single batteries to consumers?
No. We supply OEMs, fleets and industrial buyers at volume.
How long has Lithium Battery Company been building packs?
Since 2014, with hundreds of thousands of packs produced for OEM programs.