The high and low temperature performance of lifepo4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries is much better than normal battery technologies. The test results show that at a low temperature of -40℃, lifepo4 batteries can still supply 80% of nominal capacity (at most 30% for lead-acid batteries) and the starting current density is 500A/m² (the limit of lead-acid batteries is 200A/m²). The actual test of the 2023 Norwegian Arctic Circle Electric Ferry project shows that the Marine battery pack with lifepo4 was 92% (efficiency of lead-acid batteries dropped to 45%) in charge and discharge efficiency in the sea fog environment of -30℃ (humidity: 98%), and the cycle life was over 4,000 times (with an attenuation rate of capacity of 0.025% per time). UL 1973 certification testing in America shows that its low-temperature charging function still only has a 0.5C rate at -20℃ (lead-acid batteries cannot be charged), and the charging efficiency is up to 85% (only 50% for ternary lithium batteries).
High temperatures have little effect on lifepo4 batteries; they are very stable. At the high-temperature storage test of 75℃, its yearly capacity ageing rate was as low as 3.8% (25% for ternary lithium batteries), and the starting temperature of thermal runaway was up to 270℃ (150℃ for ternary lithium batteries). Statistics of the 2022 Saudi Arabia solar power storage project show that at the condition of 55℃ for average 14 hours per day, the capacity retention rate of lifepo4 battery packs was 91% after three years (the capacity of lead-acid batteries was reduced to 48% within the same three years), and the cost of system maintenance was reduced by 62% (18/kWh in average vs.48/kWh per year). The TUV Rheinland German high-temperature cycling test proves that following 2,000 1C rate charge and discharge cycles under a 60℃ environment, the internal resistance of lifepo4 increases by less than 15% (for lead-acid batteries, 300%), and the efficiency of energy remains 93% (for lead-acid batteries, reduces to 65%).
Its reliability in extreme humidity and salt spray conditions also proved its flexibility. lifepo4 batteries have experienced the IP68 protection certification (immersion in water at a depth of 1.5 meters for 72 hours), and in coastal environments with 100% humidity, self-discharge is less than 2% monthly (8-10% in lead-acid batteries). The 2024 Hainan Island Cross-sea Bridge Monitoring system case shows that lifepo4-powered sensor operated in the environment of 5mg/m³ salt spray concentration for 18 months, and the corrosion area is just 0.8cm² (the corrosion area of the shell of the lead-acid battery reached 12cm²). The US Navy 2023 test report on submarine equipment indicates that the lifepo4 battery pack could support the sonar system continuously operating for 240 hours in a deep-sea pressure environment of 5MPa and relative humidity of 95%, with the voltage fluctuation range of ±0.5% (±5% when using lead-acid batteries) (only 72 hours when using the lead-acid solution).
The working performance under harsh temperature and high speed switching conditions proves the technical advantages. NASA’s 2025 lunar rover will employ lifepo4 batteries, with over an 85% capacity retention rate (50% for nickel-hydrogen batteries) under a dicircadian temperature range of -180 ° C to 120 ° C, and a R²=0.999 charge-discharge curve linearity (0.95 for common batteries). Statistics of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau photovoltaic energy storage project show that lifepo4 batteries during 24 hours undergo temperature fluctuation from -25℃ to 40℃. In this case, their day-average throughput of energy achieves 98% of the nominal one (the fluctuation range of the lead-acid battery is 60-130%). During the 2023 California wildfires, the ambient temperature of Tesla’s Megapack energy storage system rose from 25℃ to 65℃ within one hour. The precision of the temperature control of the lifepo4 battery pack was ±1.5℃ (±8℃ for lead-acid system), which effectively avoided thermal runaway and ensured the grid support function.
Economic and safety parameters redefine energy solutions for extreme weather. The total cost of ownership throughout the entire lifetime of lifepo4 batteries is as low as 0.03/kWh for application temperatures between -40℃ and 60℃ (0.15/kWh for lead-acid batteries), with no additional power consumption from temperature control equipment (saves 15% system power). According to the European New Energy Association’s 2024 report, after polar research stations transitioned to using lifepo4 instead of diesel generators, carbon emissions fell by 89% per year and fuel transportation costs were cut by $120,000 per station. When testing the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck in Alaska, the lifepo4 battery pack was able to output a peak power of 210kW in 30 seconds after a -45℃ cold start (lead-acid batteries take 3 minutes), a new standard for the power supply of cold-start vehicles.