Why don't motorcycles use lithium batteries?
3 Answers
Motorcycles do not use lithium batteries because lithium batteries are not as adaptable to deep cycle charging and discharging as lead-acid batteries. The following are the signs and causes of battery failure: Warning signs of battery failure: The motorcycle can start, but the dashboard or system will emit a warning sound during the starting moment. Symptoms of insufficient voltage: One scenario is that low-current electrical devices such as remote door opening, dashboard, and radio can function normally, but the starter motor fails to work, producing only a motor sound. Another scenario is that the motor can run normally, but the motorcycle fails to start. The reason is that the battery voltage is too low, causing the modules to malfunction and the system to fail to unlock. Symptoms of complete power loss: The remote cannot open the door, and there is no response at all.
After running this repair shop for so many years, I've found most motorcycles still use lead-acid batteries simply because they're incredibly durable and cost-effective. Lead-acid batteries are tough as nails—they can handle being jolted around on dirt roads all day without failing, and repairs are a breeze since any roadside stall can replace them. Lithium batteries? Too delicate. Motorcycle electrical systems lack the sophisticated protection of e-bikes, making them prone to water damage during rain or overheating in summer sun. Plus, lead-acid batteries are cheap—just over 100 yuan for a new one, whereas lithium batteries cost 300-400 yuan minimum, plus hundreds more to upgrade the charging system. Not worth it.
Veteran car modifiers all know that motorcycle electrical systems are too simplistic. You can just slap a lead-acid battery in and it'll work, but lithium batteries require dedicated charge/discharge management modules. What's more troublesome is the temperature issue - in northern winters where it drops below -10°C, lead-acid batteries can still start the engine, while lithium batteries' cold-start performance drops by about 20%. Then there's vibration - with motorcycle engines shaking so violently, the fragile cells inside lithium batteries are prone to displacement damage, whereas lead-acid batteries have solid grid structures inside that are much more impact-resistant.
