These advantages translate into a significant reduction in infrastructure and maintenance costs, especially in cyclic applications, and a good return on investment. The most important characteristics of lead-acid crystal batteries are detailed below and briefly compared with lead-acid and lead-gel batteries:

- Longer lifespan, both in terms of the number of charge and discharge cycles and in float cycles. Lead-acid crystal batteries can withstand 1,500 cycles, discharging to 80% depth (leaving only 20% of the battery's capacity). In contrast, lead-acid or GEL batteries barely last a third as long.
Thus, lead-acid crystal batteries offer cycle life performance comparable to lithium technology, the latter being much less competitive due to its higher price.
Furthermore, in float cycles, lead-acid crystal batteries are designed to last more than 10 years, while lead-acid and GEL batteries with similar characteristics barely last half as long.
The ability to withstand deeper discharges while maintaining a longer cycle life than other lead-acid technologies reduces infrastructure costs, as lower-capacity batteries can be used and discharged to greater depths while still achieving the desired cycle life. In addition, maintenance costs can be reduced, as batteries do not need to be changed as often.

- Superior performance at extreme temperatures: lead-acid batteries can operate between -40°C and 65°C, maintaining 40% of their nominal capacity at -40°C. At sub-zero temperatures, traditional lead-acid or gel batteries perform worse, sometimes even ceasing to function.
Their superior performance at extreme temperatures allows lead-acid batteries to reduce insulation and thermal conditioning costs.
Furthermore, lead-acid batteries can be charged at sub-zero temperatures.

- They charge faster; lead-acid batteries charge up to twice as fast as lead-acid batteries.

They can be discharged to greater depths, even down to 0 volts, and regain their nominal capacity after recharging. In contrast, lead-acid batteries recover with difficulty from such deep discharges, or not at all.
This reduces maintenance costs associated with accidental discharges.

- Greater usable capacity, related to the previous advantage, since it is possible to discharge the battery more deeply, thus extracting more capacity. Furthermore, the rated capacity of Lead Crystal Batteries is at C10 (10 hours), which is greater compared to batteries rated at C20 (20 hours).
This characteristic reduces infrastructure costs, as it is possible to use a battery with a lower capacity than lead-acid or GEL batteries.

- Higher discharge current, allowing discharges of 10C, compared to 3C for lead-acid batteries.

They can be stored for two years without needing maintenance recharges. And if a lead-acid crystal battery discharges to 0 volts, it can be recovered after two charge cycles. In contrast, lead-acid and GEL batteries require recharging every six months, as after this time there is a high probability of damage.
This feature reduces storage maintenance costs, since it is not necessary to recharge the batteries every few months. It also reduces energy costs, as fewer recharges are required.
This, in turn, contributes to greater reliability for lead-acid crystal batteries, as defective lead-acid or GEL batteries are more likely to be found due to inadequate maintenance, which sometimes requires recharging after long transport times from the factory.

- Crystal lead-acid batteries are more robust, both physically and in terms of performance. Physically, because their internal composition is solid and they contain no liquids, they continue to function without leaking fluids after accidental breakage. In contrast, lead-acid and GEL batteries quickly stop working after a casing breakage due to the loss of liquids and gases necessary for recombination.
Regarding performance, crystal lead-acid batteries withstand improper use very well, such as discharges to 0 volts, partial charges, and lack of maintenance. Conversely, lead-acid or GEL batteries experience a drastic loss of performance in applications with irregular, deep, and partial charge and discharge cycles.

- Crystal lead batteries have a low level of gas emissions (IEC 60896-21/11) so they do not require special ventilation or cooling.

It's a more environmentally friendly technology, as it contains no cadmium or antimony, and less than 5% sulfuric acid. Furthermore, it uses high-purity lead plates, making it 99% recyclable.
Thanks to its low maintenance and longer lifespan, it reduces its environmental footprint by producing fewer greenhouse gases from maintenance and repairs, and by requiring fewer battery replacements throughout the application's lifespan.

- Longer warranty, offering 3 years from the date of manufacture and it is possible to obtain a 5-year warranty for certain applications and working conditions.

- Safe for transport, as it is classified as a Non-Hazardous battery and is safe for transport by land, sea, and air. The lead-acid battery has a non-corrosive electrolyte that remains dry.

Crystal lead technology is the result of more than 10 years of R&D, which have led to a patented technology that improves upon current lead-acid and GEL batteries in many aspects, resembling Lithium in its characteristics, even surpassing them in some cases, and is the most competitive option in the medium term given the reduction in maintenance and replacement costs.

World-renowned manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, hybrid installations, solar streetlights, automatic storage systems, electric vehicles, railway and road signaling, parking meters, buoys, X-ray equipment, UPS systems, warships, among other applications, are successfully using these batteries, outperforming leading lead-acid and GEL brands.

Lead Crystal batteries are continuously undergoing certification and hold ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO18001, CE, and UL accreditations. They also comply with IEC 60896-21 and 22.

The following table shows a summary of the compared features.

Although lead-acid batteries have lower immediate costs, they are the most expensive in the medium to long term due to the necessary maintenance and replacements. Conversely, the high initial cost of lithium makes it a less competitive option. Ultimately, the most competitive technology, offering the best cost-performance ratio and the lowest cost per cycle, is lead-acid.

RCMicroelectrónica is the distributor for Spain and Portugal of Lead Crystal BETTA Batteries.