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Types Of UPS Batteries

Currently, mainstream UPS battery solutions cover lead-acid, lithium-ion, and nickel-based batteries. With the rapid increase in power density and safety requirements of data centers, nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn) batteries are becoming a new focus of industry attention due to their superior discharge performance and high safety.

Mainstream Solutions

VRLA (Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid Battery): The traditional industry standard, low maintenance cost.

  • AGM (Absorptive Glass Mat): Although it can cope with short-term high-current discharge, it has low energy density and is sensitive to ambient temperature (life loss above 25 ℃).
  • Gel battery: deep discharge performance is good, but in the instantaneous high power output is far less agile than nickel-zinc battery.

Lithium batteries: A leading technology in recent years. Its advantages are light weight and long life (8-10+ years), but its thermal runaway risk and complex BMS management system are still a concern in some high safety environments.

Nickel-Zinc Batteries: A New Focus For UPS Systems

As a representative of the next generation of battery technology, nickel-zinc batteries surpass traditional solutions in many dimensions and are ideal for balancing performance and safety:

  • Extremely high power density: The power density of nickel-zinc batteries is about 2 times higher than that of lead-acid batteries. This means that in the same space, it can provide more instantaneous discharge capacity, perfect match UPS short time, high current “switching protection” needs.
  • Inherently safer: Unlike lithium batteries, nickel-zinc batteries will not catch fire or explode in the event of overcharge, needle stick or short circuit. This non-combustible characteristic makes it the first choice for high-standard computer room discharge.
  • Long design life: The design life is much longer than that of lead-acid batteries, up to 5-12 years, significantly reducing the replacement frequency and maintenance workload throughout the life cycle.
  • Extreme green environmental protection: No lead, cadmium and other heavy metals，is the best solution for enterprises to fulfill their ESG (environmental, social and governance) responsibilities and build green data centers.

Specialized and Industrial-Grade Solutions

  • VLA (Flooded Lead-Acid Battery): Although the life is long, the maintenance is cumbersome and must be equipped with an exclusive ventilation room, and the space utilization rate is much lower than that of the nickel-zinc solution.
  • Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd): Although it is resistant to extreme high temperatures, it has a serious “memory effect” and environmental pollution. Today, when sustainable development is advocated, its application is gradually being replaced by more environmentally friendly and denser nickel-zinc batteries.

Core Selection Indicators

When making decisions, focus on the following four key dimensions, and you will discover the unique advantages of nickel-zinc batteries:

  • Space and load-bearing optimization: If the area of the data center is limited or the floor load-bearing is limited, the nickel-zinc battery can achieve the same power output with less than half of the volume and weight of lead acid, which is a sharp weapon to save the expensive rent of the data center.
  • Total life cycle cost (TCO): Although the initial purchase cost is slightly higher than that of lead-acid, with its long life of more than 10 years, nickel-zinc batteries eliminate the material and labor costs of replacing the battery every 3-5 years, and the long-term rate of return is extremely high.
  • High temperature tolerance: Compared with the weakness of halving the life of lead-acid batteries for every 10 ℃ increase, nickel-zinc batteries are more stable in high temperature environments, which can reduce the extreme dependence of the computer room on air conditioning and refrigeration and achieve energy saving.
  • High rate discharge demand: UPS core value lies in instantaneous power supply. The discharge rate performance of nickel-zinc batteries is the best among all energy storage batteries, especially suitable for the critical 1-5 minutes support before the generator starts.

Why Choose Nickel-Zinc Battery

Nickel-zinc batteries are not only the technology iteration, but also the efficient space and cost strategy. It successfully solved the double pain points of lead-acid battery “heavy, large, short-lived” and lithium battery “safety anxiety”. With its excellent power density, unparalleled safety record and natural environmental properties, nickel-zinc batteries are becoming the power source of choice for the pursuit of extreme reliability and green low-carbon data centers.

Author : Caleb

I am the BMS Project Manager at Gerchamp. With nine years of experience in the electrical and battery industries, I specialize in critical data center power solutions. I have led teams in executing large-scale BMS installations for major domestic and international clients, including Alibaba, ensuring the safe integration and precise management of advanced battery power systems.