This summer, the surge in demand for outdoor energy storage triggered by the RV and camping craze has been remarkable.
In addition to the Vehicle-to-Load (VtoL) feature of new energy vehicles, a variety of outdoor power supply products have become the preferred "large-scale" energy storage for consumers during travel and camping. Their sales have been steadily rising, attracting numerous companies to enter the competition, launching high-capacity outdoor power supplies.
However, in early September, news of "outdoor power supplies exploding during charging" sent shockwaves through the entire outdoor energy storage industry. According to the latest reports from the media, this outdoor mobile power supply exploded during charging, causing severe burns to two users and raising concerns among many consumers.
In fact, long before the RV and camping craze, similar energy storage products mostly existed under the name of "emergency power supplies" and were relatively niche. With the push of the "outdoor camping craze," some emergency power supply products have undergone a transformation and rebranded themselves as hot outdoor power supplies, with prices soaring accordingly.
With the in-depth understanding of the media, a series of insider stories behind the outdoor power supply industry have gradually emerged. Currently, most of the products on the market, whether from mainstream formal energy storage brands or ordinary small factories, have many problems.
The outdoor power supply industry, which is running blindfolded, must be taken care of.
Are the battery cell labels fishy?
"Like new energy vehicles, the key to determining the quality of outdoor power supplies is the battery core, but the water inside is very deep."
Xie Hailiang, who lives in Huadu, Guangzhou, is a camping enthusiast and a senior practitioner in the energy storage industry.
Compared with most ordinary RV and camping enthusiasts, he is naturally more cautious when purchasing outdoor power supplies. tomy said: Currently, the products on the market are divided into two categories: ternary lithium and lithium iron phosphate batteries.
In addition to the Vehicle-to-Load (VtoL) feature of new energy vehicles, various outdoor power supply products have become the preferred "large-scale" energy storage for consumers during travel and camping. Their sales have been steadily rising, attracting numerous companies to enter the competition, launching high-capacity outdoor power supplies.
However, in early September, news of "outdoor power supplies exploding during charging" sent shockwaves through the entire outdoor energy storage industry. According to the latest reports from the media, this outdoor mobile power supply exploded during charging, causing severe burns to two users and raising concerns among many consumers.
In fact, long before the RV and camping trend, similar energy storage products mostly existed under the name of "emergency power supplies" and were relatively niche. With the push of the "outdoor camping craze," some emergency power supply products have undergone a transformation and rebranded themselves as hot outdoor power supplies, with prices soaring accordingly.
Based on his expertise, after reviewing the data on the outdoor power supply explosion incident in September, he found that the batteries used in the related products should be ternary lithium (rather than lithium iron phosphate). In his view, the voltage of a single lithium iron phosphate battery should not exceed 3.7 volts, and when four lithium iron phosphate batteries are connected in parallel to form a 12-volt power supply, the highest charging voltage should be 14.8 volts.
"But in the product involved in the recent accident reported in the news, the charging voltage was 12.6 volts, which is clearly the ternary lithium battery with a charging voltage of 4.2 volts." Xie Hailiang pointed out that the thermal runaway temperature of lithium iron phosphate batteries is much higher than that of ternary lithium batteries. Therefore, outdoor power supplies using lithium iron phosphate batteries are much safer than those using ternary lithium batteries.
However, outdoor power supplies emphasize convenience, so some manufacturing companies, in pursuit of smaller product weight and size, may use ternary lithium batteries with higher unit energy density, highlighting the selling points of lightweight and portability. "But this approach sacrifices the safety of the product to some extent."
Compared to indoor emergency storage, the usage scenario for outdoor power supplies is quite demanding. Most RV and self-driving enthusiasts often leave outdoor power supplies in the car for long periods. However, in the summer, vehicles parked outdoors may exceed 70 degrees Celsius, "At this time, products using ternary lithium batteries will face certain risks."
So, why don't new energy vehicles parked outdoors have risks, considering that many of them also use ternary power batteries?
Tomy explained: Compared to the well-developed Battery Management System (BMS) and thermal cycling systems in cars, the heat dissipation mechanism of outdoor batteries is relatively weak, making it more challenging to deal with the risk of thermal runaway.
If consumers purchase outdoor power supplies that use second-hand dismantled car batteries or reused old ternary lithium batteries, the risk is even greater. And currently, some low-end outdoor power supply products on the market, with retail prices that don't even cover the cost of the batteries, are likely to use second-hand batteries from dismantled cars.
"I'm not saying that old lithium iron phosphate batteries are problem-free, but the risk is lower than products using old ternary lithium batteries." Therefore, he suggests that RV and camping enthusiasts, when purchasing outdoor power supply products, should prefer lithium iron phosphate batteries. "But for consumers who are not knowledgeable, it's not easy to find outdoor power supplies with lithium iron phosphate batteries."
According to Tomy, due to the lack of industry standards and regulations, the battery identification of mainstream outdoor power supplies is still very confusing. Many outdoor power supplies that use ternary lithium batteries are labeled as "automotive-grade power batteries," which can easily confuse consumers.
"Obviously, with the popularization of new energy knowledge, more and more consumers know that lithium iron phosphate is safer. Some manufacturers feel guilty, so they label their ternary lithium battery products as automotive-grade batteries to deceive inexperienced users." Tomy emphasized that besides small workshops, some well-known brands also engage in such practices.
It can be seen that when it comes to the selection of batteries for outdoor power supplies, there are already many hidden pitfalls in terms of "labeling and description." As an "outsider" ordinary consumer, one may inadvertently step into a pit. Especially, the problems in the outdoor power supply industry go far beyond this.
Consumers must carefully select batteries when purchasing outdoor power supplies, especially lithium iron phosphate battery products to ensure higher safety. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are more stable in high temperature environments than ternary lithium batteries, so they are more suitable for outdoor use, especially under high temperature conditions in summer.
However, there are some problems in the current outdoor power supply market, the most significant of which is the lack of unified industry standards and specifications. This allows some irresponsible or dishonest manufacturers to falsely label their products and mislead consumers. Some manufacturers may claim that their products use lithium iron phosphate batteries, but actually use cheaper but less safe ternary lithium batteries.
In view of this situation, ordinary consumers need to be highly vigilant when purchasing outdoor power supplies. They should not only pay attention to the appearance and functions of the product, but also carefully check the product's technical parameters and battery cell information. Some good manufacturers may provide clear cell identification and related certifications, which can help ensure product quality and performance.
In addition, consumers can seek authoritative product reviews and professional opinions for more information on specific outdoor power supplies. Reading reviews and feedback from other consumers is also an effective way to understand how a product really performs.
Overall, when choosing an outdoor power supply, consumers need to choose carefully and fully understand the product to ensure they purchase safe and reliable equipment. At the same time, the industry should promote the establishment of clearer standards and specifications to improve the transparency and credibility of the entire outdoor power market, thereby reducing the risks caused by false labeling.
Finally, for consumers who are pursuing higher safety and reliability in the field of outdoor energy storage batteries, we sincerely recommend considering choosing TDTBMS (company name) products. As a professional manufacturer in this field, we are committed to providing outdoor power solutions that comply with industry standards and safety regulations.
With advanced technology and strict quality control, TDTBMS has achieved remarkable results in the R&D and production of outdoor power battery management systems (BMS). Our products use lithium iron phosphate batteries to ensure excellent performance and stability under various environmental conditions, especially in high temperature summers.
Our team is comprised of industry professionals focused on user experience and product safety. Not only do we provide high-performance outdoor power products, we are also committed to building trust through transparent product information and certifications. TDTBMS always adheres to the principle of customer first and provides safe and reliable energy storage solutions for outdoor enthusiasts.
So, if you are looking for a battery management system that excels in outdoor energy storage, consider TDTBMS. We look forward to providing stable and safe energy support for your outdoor activities. Welcome to visit our official website or contact our customer service team for more detailed information about TDTBMS products. Thank you for choosing TDTBMS to provide professional solutions for your outdoor energy storage needs.
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