---
title: "Making Cents: 5 Economic Benefits of Lead-Acid and AGM Batteries"
description: Lead-acid and AGM batteries cost up to 75% less than lithium. Learn the top 5 economic benefits, from setup to recycling.
---

[Blog ](https://www.crownbattery.com/news)

# [Making Cents: 5 Economic Benefits of Lead-Acid and AGM Batteries](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/making-cents-5-economic-benefits-of-lead-acid-and-agm-batteries)

 Written by [Crown Battery](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/author/crown-battery) | Apr 30, 2024 10:54:05 PM

***Recyclable lead-based batteries are 50%-75% less expensive than Lithium-ion (LI) batteries – while offering strong reliability and low or near-zero maintenance.***

And flooded lead-acid (FLA) and absorbent gel mat (AGM) batteries make sense for many applications – for your finances, operations, and safety.

*But what are their pros and cons – and are they a sound investment for you?*

In this blog post, you’ll learn five economic benefits of FLA and AGM batteries, including:

- Why are lead battery costs less than ½ the price of other battery chemistries?
- How FLA and AGM batteries reduce setup and installation costs
- Near Zero-Waste manufacturing techniques that lower your environmental impact and purchase price
- What you need to know about battery safety and fire mitigation
- Why FLA and AGM batteries are better for the environment – and your wallet

## #1: Lower lifetime and upfront costs in most applications

*Despite FLA and AGM batteries’ robotic assembly and proven track record, they’re generally 50% to 75% less expensive than comparable LI batteries.*

Lead-based batteries typically offer more kWh of lifetime energy per dollar because they:

- Use ~80% recycled materials
- Don’t require expensive and difficult-to-extract metals (cobalt) or lithium brine
- Are already safe without needing expensive onboard BMS

Computerized modeling and robotic assembly revolutionized FLA and AGM batteries, improving lifespan, consistency, and performance.

Yet their underlying chemistry has over a century of safety, durability, and reliability in billions of installations. (For example, lead-based batteries start most of [the world’s 1.47 billion cars](https://www.thedrive.com/guides-and-gear/how-many-cars-are-there-in-the-world) – and partially or fully power most forklifts, golf carts, boats, and off-grid homes.)

## #2: Easier, simpler, and cheaper installation and setup

*Recyclable FLA and AGM batteries often feature straightforward, plug-and-play installation* and require fewer additional components.

For instance, unlike Li-based batteries, FLA and AGM batteries don’t require Battery Management Systems (BMS) for safety.

*You can often use existing fire safety equipment* because lead-based batteries don’t suffer from the potential for multi-day thermal runaway or extreme temperatures in case of fire.

*By contrast, many LI battery installations require new fire suppression systems*, additional safety training, and coordination with local fire departments to ensure they’re adequately trained and equipped for Lithium-ion battery fire suppression. Some insurance companies even require more expensive policies if LI batteries are stored or used onsite.

## #3: Near-zero waste

*Less waste = more resilient supply chains, greater manufacturing efficiency, lower pricing for you, and less pollution.*

*FLA and AGM batteries are 99% recycled – more than an aluminum can (source: US EPA’s* “Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet”)

*Lead-based batteries require less mining* because they incorporate approximately 80% recycled materials.

*And in 2021 alone, Crown’s waste-reducing production equipment, processes, and engineering saved:*

- 411,940 pounds (186,852 kg) of on-site materials recycled

- 1,441,790 gallons (5,457,768 liters) of wastewater reused through our 19-step filtration process
- 3,501 trees’ worth of fiber
- 865,074 Kilowatt hours of electricity -- enough to power 943 U.S. homes for a month (based on 11,000 kWh yearly usage per household; source: U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey)
- 700 cubic yards (535.18 cubic meters) of landfill averted - enough to cover a U.S. football field in 3 inches (7.62 cm) of recycled material
- 84,448 gallons (383,908 liters) of fuel saved

*We pass some of those savings on to you – and reinvest the rest* in further waste reduction and energy efficiency programs – a virtuous cycle.

[Get your copy of the Zero Battery Waste Guide](https://www.crownbattery.com/zerowaste) to find out which batteries reduce waste – and lower your energy storage costs.

## #4: Disposal costs

*All batteries die – but only some offer free recycling *Let’s compare:

*OPTION 1: FLA and AGM battery recycling is almost always free or nets you a profit…* because the process is streamlined, mandatory, and profitable for recyclers.

*OPTION 2: Lithium-based batteries face numerous hurdles to universal and profitable recycling… so you may foot the bill.*

Eventually, emerging battery chemistries like lithium-ion (LI) and Lithium-ion phosphate (LiFePO4) will require recycling – just like lead-acid batteries.

But today, they don’t.

*And LI battery recycling faces critical roadblocks:*

- Fire hazardous complicate collection, transportation, and storage
- Lacking national collection infrastructure
- Difficulty sorting and disassembling batteries
- Inefficiency of existing recycling methods
- Low material value of most internal components (heavy metals like cobalt are being phased out, slashing the profitability of recycling)

With so many logistical, technical, and legislative hurdles…

… 95% of lithium-ion batteries today end up in a landfill. (Source: Chemical & Engineering News’s “[It's time to get serious about recycling lithium-ion batteries](https://cen.acs.org/materials/energy-storage/time-serious-recycling-lithium/97/i28)”)

*When spent LI batteries aren’t collected or recyclable, valuable materials like lithium need to be mined new.* These resources are difficult to extract – at a heavy price for local communities and the environment. And as demand increases, supplies will come from increasingly remote and difficult-to-extract-from areas, increasing environmental and monetary costs.

*We’ve already seen several LI battery users forced to pay disposal fees for spent batteries.*

And unless universal battery collection and recycling become possible and profitable, you could face unexpected costs at the end of LI batteries’ life.

## #5: Safety and Fire Mitigation

No matter which batteries you choose, battery safety is critical to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your employees.

*Recyclable lead-based batteries have 100+ years of safe operation because:*

- They aren’t vulnerable to large-scale thermal runaway, unlike LI models. (Li-based batteries are at greater risk of fires and explosions primarily due to higher energy density.)
- You’re protected by decades of published safety standards and best practices.

- Because FLA and AGM batteries aren’t prone to catastrophic thermal runaway, you won’t be subject to possible property/fire insurance price hikes aimed at LI-based batteries.
- Firefighters are already familiar with and equipped to extinguish FLA and AGM fires.
- There is virtually zero risk of lead battery electrolyte ignition in extreme cold.
- Lead battery cases enclose or seal in chemicals, protecting users.
- FLA and AGM batteries are so safe, they’re even permitted in airplane cargo holds. (Note that lead-based batteries require proper ventilation when in use.)

## BONUS: Proven longevity in the field – not just in the laboratory

*If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.*

Let’s look at how to tell the difference between battery longevity claims and reality:

*Some battery chemistries make unsubstantiated lifespan claims – think, “10 years no matter what” – based solely on computerized models or accelerated laboratory tests.*

While predictive testing is important for testing and validation, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the real world.

*Although there’s little data to substantiate most 10-year battery lifespan claims, scientists and engineers have ample data about battery aging patterns:*

All batteries lose capacity when they age. However, lithium-ion models are susceptible to significant increases in resistance, which can adversely affect performance, especially in short-duration applications. For instance, a mere 20% decrease in capacity can elevate DC resistance to levels surpassing 60%. (In comparison, AGM batteries with a similar 20% capacity reduction often see internal resistance rise by only around 30%.)

*Take marketing claims and warranties with a grain of salt UNLESS battery manufacturers:*

- Back up claims with real-world results
- Tell you the truth about which variables affect battery lifespan
- Stand behind strong, written warranties
- Have been in continuous operation for longer than their warranty period – or, if they’re startups, provide third-party insurance to protect your claim

*Crown batteries have been field-tested and proven reliable for nearly 100 years, from* Fortune 500 warehouses and communications towers to off-grid homes and cities, mining and military applications, and electric vehicles.

*Crown batteries are engineered and assembled in the USA at our ISO 9001:2015-certified headquarters* in Fremont, OH.

*We tell you the truth: Battery lifespan varies based on several factors, including:* engineering and assembly, quality of installation and ventilation, operating and charging temperatures, sizing and depth of discharge, and maintenance.

*In many installations, AGM and FLA batteries typically last 3 to 7 years.* In optimal conditions, they can last longer than a decade.

*We’ll be here long after *any* battery on the market – and we’ve been in continuous operation since 1926.*

And unlike startup battery manufacturers dependent on the next round of venture capital funding or quarterly reports…

*Multiple generations of customers trust Crown Battery’s strong, written warranties and helpful US-based support.*

Ultimately, only you can choose which batteries make sense for you.

And if you want to help protect your battery investment, [click here to read “How to Understand Battery Warranty Terms and Conditions](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/understanding-battery-warranty-terms-and-conditions).”

[View full post](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/making-cents-5-economic-benefits-of-lead-acid-and-agm-batteries)

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