As battery technology advances by leaps and bounds, electric vehicles have entered every household due to their lower cost. However, most consumers may not be aware that car battery weight plays a critical role in vehicle performance. Therefore, this guide will help you understand the types of car battery weights and their impact on car performance.
Car Battery Type Comparison
Common types of electric vehicle batteries mainly include lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, and nickel-metal hydride batteries. The following are the characteristics of these batteries.
The earliest application was the lead-acid battery, weighing 14 to 23 kg. It is a traditional energy storage battery with low cost, but with small capacity, low energy density, and slightly shorter cycle life. In addition, lead-acid batteries are large, heavy, and contain lead that is easy to pollute the environment.
The most widely used is the lithium battery, weighing 4 to 9 kg. Lithium iron phosphate and lithium ternary batteries are more common in new energy vehicles. They feature lightweight, high specific energy, providing greater energy storage capacity.
Graphene batteries enhance range and life by adding graphene elements and perform well in low temperatures. However, the cost of graphene is high, and there are fewer electric vehicles on the market.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries are synthesized from hydrogen ions and metallic nickel, with 30% more power reserves than nickel-cadmium batteries. However, the manufacturing cost is higher and the performance is worse than lithium batteries.
What Affects Car Battery Weight?
Battery pack weight occupies a relatively large proportion in new energy vehicles. There are many factors that affect the weight of a car battery, which further influences car performance.
The first factor is battery materials and design. Different battery materials have different energy densities and weights, such as lithium-ion batteries, LiFePO4 batteries. For example, some batteries may have a higher overall weight due to the use of thicker materials to enhance safety and stability.
Secondly, the capacity and type of battery directly affect weight. For instance, the larger the volume of a lithium-ion battery, the more active material and electrolyte it can hold, so the weight of the battery increases.
In addition, auxiliary components increase car battery weight. Battery packs are often equipped with various auxiliary components, such as cooling systems, battery management systems (BMS).
Why Does Auto Battery Weight Affect Performance?
As the battery industry continues to improve quality, the judgment that “the heavier the battery, the better the performance” seems increasingly unscientific. Instead, it will bring about a series of harmful effects. First, car battery weight will also affect car service life because it increases the burden on the motor during use, thus affecting the motor’s service life. Secondly, the heavy EV battery is increasing the vehicle’s energy consumption and shortening the driving range. At the same time, the overweight car battery will also enhance internal resistance of the battery pack and generate more heat during charging and discharging, which may accelerate the aging process of the battery and the probability of battery bulging.
Heavy Car Battery VS. Light Car Battery Comparison
The 2025 Shanghai Auto Show is in full swing. BYD, Li Auto Inc., and ALTO all use lithium batteries instead of lead-acid batteries. Lithium batteries and Lead-acid batteries are two typical representatives of heavy car batteries and light car batteries, so let’s compare them.
To begin with, lithium batteries have high energy density and are lighter. Lithium batteries’ weight is only 20% of that of lead-acid batteries. Then, LiFePO4 batteries reach 2000~5000 cycles, while lead-acid batteries are only 300~500 times. Thirdly, lithium batteries support 0.5C~1C high-current fast charging. Next, lithium-ion batteries feature with <3% low self-discharge rate, while lead-acid batteries are about 5%~20% self-discharge %. Additionally, Lead-acid batteries have contributed to the lead pollution problem. On the contrary, lithium battery boasts no lead pollution and exceed 90% high recycling rate, which conforms to the sustainable development concept of new energy vehicles.
| Features | Lead-acid batteries | Lithium batteries |
| Lifetime | 2-3 years on average | Lasts as long as the car |
| Experience | Lightweight, reduces energy consumption | Easy to lose power, and maintenance is troublesome |
| Environment | Pollutes with lead | No pollution |
| Intelligence | None | Intelligent management of the battery |
| Size | Large, takes up space | Compact, space-saving |
| Weight | Heavy, increases energy consumption | Light weight, reduces energy consumption |
| Warranty | 12,000 km per year on average | 150,000 km in 6 years |
In a nutshell, customers need to understand car battery weight to make a decisive decision when choosing a suitable battery pack. As a manufacturer of custom LiFePO4 battery packs, CM Batteries is committed to putting quality first. Our LiFePO4 battery pack features wide temperature adaptability and low temperature resistance(from -40˚C to 85˚C). We also offer IP68 waterproof design, immersion cooling technology, smart battery management system (BMS) to monitor power, temperature, which are ideal for Electric vehicles, commercial energy storage, robots, and power tools. Before designing your unique battery pack solution, CM batteries will understand your requirement, so please contact us.
FAQ
1. Does a heavier car battery perform better?
You cannot simply assume that the heavier the better, but should choose according to actual needs. While heavier lead-acid batteries usually have greater capacity and range, too heavy batteries can also increase the overall weight of the EV, making the vehicle bulkier and affecting handling and acceleration.
2. How much does the average car battery weigh?
The specific car battery weight depends on battery capacity and the design of the model. Taking a pure electric vehicle as an example, LiFePO4 batteries’ weight varies depending on the model and battery capacity. For example, the battery of the BYD Qin weighs 102 kg, while the battery of the BYD Tang weighs 142 kg.
