Need to know how to choose a battery pack that meets your needs when designing or developing an AGV/AMR?
Through this guide, you will understand how battery power from lithium iron phosphate (LFP) to nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) can improve performance, increase life, reduce carbon footprint, promote sustainability, and reduce fuel costs.
We work with robot manufacturers R&D teams and solution design companies (including ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa, Geek+, Linde, Kion, Toyota Industries, OTTO, MiR, JLG, Skyjack, etc.) to summarize for you the inside information you can’t find anywhere else.
In this comprehensive guide, you will know.
- Common battery types and differences
- Battery selection recommendations
- Traps to Avoid
Based on Keheng’s more than 16 years of industry experience, we can help you solve the recommendations for purchasing batteries for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), golf carts, forklifts, and scissor lifts.
Let’s get started
How to choose a suitable battery?
Summary table of pros and cons of LFP VS NMC VS lead-acid batteries
Feature | Lead-Acid | Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) | Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) |
Energy Density (Wh/kg) | 30-50 | 90-160 | 150-220 |
Cycle Life | 300-500 cycles | 2000-4000 cycles | 1000-2000 cycles |
Cost | Low | Moderate | High |
Weight | Heavy | Lighter | Lighter |
Charge Efficiency | 70-80% | 95-98% | 90-95% |
Discharge Rate | Slow | Moderate | Fast |
Environmental Impact | High (toxic materials) | Low (eco-friendly materials) | Moderate (contains heavy metals) |
Thermal Stability | Moderate | High | Moderate |
Maintenance | High (requires regular maintenance) | Low (maintenance-free) | Low (maintenance-free) |
Typical Applications | Golf cart, Scissor lift | AGV, AMR, Forklift, golf cart, Scissor lift | AGV, AMR, Scissor lift |
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
Advantages: Thermal stability and long cycle life, not prone to overheating and thermal runaway, high discharge rate,
Disadvantages: Lower energy density, heavier.
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)
Advantages: High power density, light weight
Disadvantages: Poor thermal stability, high price
Lead Acid
Advantages: Known for reliability and reasonable price.
Disadvantages: Short cycle life, low power and requires regular maintenance, larger and bulkier.
Choose batteries according to specific needs
AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle)
AGV batteries need to focus on factors such as energy density, cycle life and safety in an industrial environment of reliability and efficiency.
Purchase recommendations: 48V 100Ah AGV LFP lithium battery with long life or high safety or AGV 60V 50ah NMC battery with higher energy density.
Battery Type | Power Density | Cycle Life | Security |
LFP | Lower | High | High |
NMC | High | Modest | Moderate |
AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot)
NMC batteries are well suited for AMRs due to their high energy density and relative lightness, and their fast charging capabilities can reduce downtime and improve performance.
Purchase recommendations: 48V 40Ah AMR battery, 24V 20Ah robots battery, 48V 20ah lifepo4 battery, 36V 50Ah lithium battery.
Battery Type | Energy Density | Weight | Billing Time |
NMC | High | Reduced | Brief |
LFP | Reduced | Higher | Modest |
Golf carts
In golf carts, try to choose a battery with longer cycle life, less maintenance, and higher energy density, even though they have a higher initial cost.
Purchase suggestions: 48 Volt 50Ah LFP battery, 72V 105Ah lithium battery/ 48V 105Ah Lifepo4battery/ 48V 160Ah.
Battery Type | Price | Upkeep | Cycle Life |
Lead-Acid | Low | High | Short |
LFP | High | Low | Lengthy |
Forklift
Forklifts using LFP batteries require batteries that can handle high power output and frequent charging cycles. Therefore, LFP batteries with higher cycle life, energy density, and high safety are needed.
Purchase recommendations: 48v 540Ah lithium forklift battery/ 80V 300Ah LFP battery / 72v 160 Ah battery.
Battery Type | Power Output | Sturdiness | Charging Frequency |
LFP | High | High | Frequent |
Lead-Acid | Moderate | Modest | Much less Frequent |
Scissor lifts
LFP batteries are often preferred in scissor lifts due to their stability and long cycle life, which reduces the need for regular replacement. The safety features of LFP batteries make them a reliable choice for airborne work systems.
Buying recommendations: 25.6v 105ah Scissor lift battery / Scissor lift 12v 100Ah LFP battery.
Battery Type | Security | Cycle Life | Security |
LFP | High | Long | High |
NMC | Moderate | Moderate | Modest |
Buying tips and traps to avoid
Voltage And Capacity
When choosing batteries for AGV (automatic guided vehicle) and AMR (autonomous mobile robot) systems, you first need to determine the voltage. 24V, 48V, 60V and 96V are usually commonly used voltages. The capacity can be determined according to the actual situation. You can customize 50-500Ah batteries to meet your high-frequency use.
Check certification and compliance
North America needs to ensure that it has: UL/ CSA/ FCC/ CFR and other certifications.
Europe needs to ensure that it has: CE/ UN38.3/ ROhs/ REACH and other certifications.
Transportation certification: IATA/ IMDG/ ADR/ DOT and other certifications.
Warranty and after-sales service
Batteries are not conventional products and usually encounter some technical problems during installation. Please ensure that the supplier you choose can help you solve all technical problems and guarantee a long warranty.
Compatibility
Make sure the battery you are considering is compatible with your existing system. This includes checking voltage requirements, physical connectors, and communication protocols (e.g. Modbus/ ROS/ Zigbee/ CANBus/ RS-232/ RS-485/ Modbus).
Customization Options
Designing a device that meets the unique requirements of your application ensures that the battery integrates seamlessly with your robotic system, ultimately increasing efficiency.
Conclusion
Ultimately, whether you are a robot manufacturer, R&D team or design company, this guide can help you choose a battery pack that will ensure your device performs better in the hands of your customers. Once you have read it carefully, you can use the information provided in this guide to help you make an informed decision.
If you have any other questions or need more help, please feel free to leave a comment or contact us!
