Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere these days. They power our computers, cell phones, lawn mowers, and hand tools. They are even showing up in the portable jump starters auto mechanics carry on their tow trucks. But is lithium ion the best battery technology for jump starters? Maybe, but maybe not. It depends a lot on need.
More portable jump starters these days are built on lithium-ion (LiFePO4) technology. Lithium-ion batteries are often a good choice because they offer good shelf life and daily usability. They charge quickly and can endure over 1,000 charge cycles. Does that make them the best choice? Not necessarily.
Small repair shops and DIY garages tend to do well with lithium-ion jump starters because their needs are minimal. Large-scale garages and fleet maintenance centers have different needs. Jump starters with lithium-ion battery packs may not be the best choice for them, especially when they put their jump starters through repeated cold-weather starts or subject them to heavy jobs – like starting large diesel engines or heavy construction equipment.
Different Battery Chemistries
Battery chemistry heavily influences the use-case scenarios a jump starter is suitable for. Here are the main battery chemistries and their typical use cases:
- Lithium-ion – Light cars and trucks; emergency services where portability matters.
- Lithium-ion phosphate – Commercial vehicles; environments where repeated use is normal.
- Lead-acid – Large trucks and commercial vehicles; shop or yard use where reliability is more important than portability.
Manufacturers have recently introduced the sodium-ion battery pack. Early adopters tend to be fleets for which cold-weather reliability is important. Sodium-ion jump starters are still in the minority because of their higher cost and limited availability.
Last but not least is supercapacitor technology. A supercapacitor is not really a battery in the truest sense of the term. It is an electronic device that temporarily stores electricity. Conversely, a battery produces electricity through a chemical reaction. Nonetheless, supercapacitors can be harnessed to power jump starters.
Supercapacitor units are popular with fleets looking for near-infinite life cycles and extreme-cold reliability. But these units should only be used by trained technicians who understand their limits and safety concerns.
Why Lithium-Ion Is So Popular
Despite so many other options, lithium-ion has become the clear choice for some commercial-grade and nearly all consumer-grade jump starters. CloreAutomotive.com, an industry leader in the jump starter and battery maintainer space, says lithium-ion technology has a lot to offer:
- High Energy Density – Lithium-ion batteries offer a higher energy density, meaning manufacturers can pack more power into a smaller unit. That’s important when portability is a priority.
- Charge Duration – Lithium-ion batteries tend to hold a charge longer than their lead-acid counterparts. They also support more charge-discharge cycles, meaning they last longer.
- Feature Compatibility – Lithium-ion batteries are compatible with the safety features manufacturers like to build into their jump starters. Designers do not have to sacrifice safety just to gain the other benefits lithium-ion technology offers.
On the downside, lithium-ion battery packs tend to cost more upfront. They are expensive to build and difficult to maintain. Lithium-ion technology is also less tolerant of abuse. It can be more sensitive to extreme cold, making the technology a poor choice in some cold-weather environments.
Overall, there is a lot to appreciate about portable jump starters built on lithium-ion battery packs. But to say lithium-ion is the best battery technology for the portable jump starter is a stretch. Products with other battery chemistries are still built because they meet certain needs that lithium-ion technology is simply not suited to. So no, there is no best battery technology for jump starters.
