Lead-Acid Batteries Solidify UPS Market Position
Release time: 2025-12-08
Amid safety concerns over lithium battery thermal runaway, lead-acid batteries have solidified their core position in the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) sector, driven by technological iterations and inherent safety. Newly unveiled lead-acid battery repair and optimization technologies at recent industry expos have injected vitality into UPS battery performance, drawing wide industry attention.
As the core energy storage component of UPS systems, lead-acid batteries have long dominated safety-sensitive scenarios like hospitals and data centers. Despite accelerated lithium battery substitution, their over 98% standardized recycling rate and mature supply chain remain irreplaceable. After the 2025 updated “Lead-Acid Battery Industry Norms” took effect, industry concentration reached 75%, making technological upgrading a key competitive factor.
Current mainstream technological upgrades for UPS lead-acid batteries focus on three areas: First, high-frequency pulse repair technology uses 0.05C low-current pulse activation to solve negative electrode sulfation, extending cycle life from 300-500 to 800-1200 cycles, with high-end models operating stably for 8-10 years. Second, lead-carbon composite technology integrates supercapacitor features, boosting charge acceptance by 40% for UPS high-frequency charge-discharge scenarios. Third, intelligent BMS synergy monitors internal resistance via 1kHz AC injection, alerting when resistance exceeds 1.5x initial value and reducing fault response time from hours to minutes. These technologies enhance UPS backup time stability by 35% and cut failure rates by 60% in telecom rooms.
In green development and cost control, lead-acid batteries excel with mature recycling systems. Industry data shows over 98% material recycling rate for standardized recovery, with recycled lead production energy consumption 50% lower than primary lead—far exceeding lithium battery recycling rates. Though high-performance lead-acid batteries cost 30-40% more initially, their 8-year lifecycle cost is 22% lower than ordinary models and 15-20% lower than same-capacity lithium batteries, gaining favor in cost-sensitive UPS scenarios like hospitals and industrial control.
Industry analysts note that with surging UPS demand from AI computing centers (cabinet power density exceeding 200kW), lead-acid batteries’ high safety stands out—their dilute sulfuric acid electrolyte avoids thermal runaway, ideal for data centers. Post-2025 norms, industry concentration hit 75% and R&D investment rose 28% YoY. Future aluminum-based lead-carbon material breakthroughs will further strengthen their competitiveness in medium-to-large UPS long-duration energy storage.
