Import 15kWh LFP Rack from China to Mexico — Small Business Backup TCO
Verdict (model output, 25-year horizon, 8.00% discount, evidence date 2026-09-21): NPV = USD -6,736.30; simple payback = None; discounted payback = None; IRR = -0.8818 (-88.18%); LCOS = USD 0.1831/kWh. The reference scenario is not cash-positive on these model inputs over the 25-year horizon: lifetime discounted costs (USD 7,303.26) exceed lifetime discounted benefits (USD 566.96) and the asset never recoups its upfront spend. The Mexican duty stack (IGI, IVA, DTA, PROSEC eligibility and any CN-origin countervailing measures) is still marked PENDING — do not commit to this reference until those rates are confirmed via the SIAVI sub-heading lookup at sat.gob.mx/consultas/operacion/41051/siavi and the Secretaría de Economía PROSEC programme page.
Decision summary
| Decision item | Value / status |
|---|---|
| Equipment / family | Pylontech US5000, 4-module rack stack (nominal 14.4 kWh / 48 V; LFP, ≥6,000 cycles to 80% DoD per OEM datasheet) |
| Origin / destination | Shanghai, CN → Manzanillo / Mexico City, MX (CIF Manzanillo + DAP buyer's warehouse) |
| Horizon | 25 years |
| Discount rate | 8.00% |
| NPV | USD -6,736.30 |
| IRR | -0.8818 |
| Simple payback | None (within 25-year horizon) |
| Discounted payback | None (within 25-year horizon) |
| LCOS | USD 0.1831 / kWh |
| Evidence date | 2026-09-21 |
| Limitation | Reference model only — IGI / IVA / DTA / PROSEC / countervailing stack PENDING SIAVI lookup. Cert numbers PENDING OEM datasheet. |
Vertical: LFP battery rack. Reference use case: small-business-backup-15kWh. Product family used: Pylontech US5000 (48 V nominal, 100 Ah per module × 4 modules ≈ nominal 14.4 kWh). This page is a landed-cost / TCO working model, not a price quote.
Reference equipment
The reference family on this page is the Pylontech US5000 48 V LFP module (4-module rack configuration → nominal 14.4 kWh, usable ~13.1 kWh at 90% DoD). Datasheet-relevant electrical and cycle limits used as model bounds:
- Nominal voltage: 48 V DC; charge range 52.5–54 V; discharge cut-off 45 V (per Pylontech US5000 datasheet PDF).
- Rated capacity per module: 100 Ah / 4.8 kWh nominal (4.56 kWh usable); 4-module stack nominal 19.2 kWh at cell level, 14.4 kWh at system level per OEM naming.
- Cycle life: ≥6,000 cycles to 80% nominal capacity at 25 °C, 0.5 C, 95% DoD (Pylontech US5000 datasheet).
- Round-trip efficiency bound used in the model: 95% (Pylontech US5000 datasheet, DC round-trip).
- Operating SoC window the model honours: 10%–100% (no deep-cycle below 10% per OEM warranty).
- Communication: CAN / RS485 per OEM manual — torque and BMS limits must be observed during install.
- Mass / form factor bound: 39.7 kg per module; 442 × 420 × 161 mm (Pylontech US5000 datasheet).
Primary OEM document: Pylontech US5000 datasheet (PDF) (Pylontech, accessed 2026-09-21). Supporting standard for transport classification: UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, 38.3 (UN 38.3) (UNECE, accessed 2026-09-21).
TCO summary (computed)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Currency | USD |
| Horizon (years) | 25 |
| Discount rate | 8.00 % |
| Total undiscounted cost (USD) | 12,683.15 |
| Total discounted cost / PV of costs (USD) | 7,303.26 |
| Total undiscounted benefit (USD) | 1,246.31 |
| Total discounted benefit (USD) | 566.96 |
| NPV (USD) | -6,736.30 |
| IRR | -0.8818 |
| Simple payback (year) | — |
| Discounted payback (year) | — |
| LCOS (USD/kWh) | 0.1831 |
computed figures from the scenario TCO model run against this page's scenario. Do not re-round or recompute — these are the values of record (evidence date 2026-09-21). LCOS denominator = lifetime discounted kWh discharged; LCOS numerator = discounted lifecycle cost net of residual, consistent with the year-by-year table below.
Year-by-year cash flow (computed)
| Year | Cost (USD) | Benefit (USD) | Net (USD) | Discount factor | Discounted net (USD) | Energy (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3,574.06 | 0.0000 | -3,574.06 | 1.00 | -3,574.06 | 0.0000 |
| 1 | 300.00 | 60.78 | -239.22 | 0.9259 | -221.50 | 4,276.80 |
| 2 | 306.00 | 59.74 | -246.26 | 0.8573 | -211.13 | 4,204.09 |
| 3 | 312.12 | 58.73 | -253.39 | 0.7938 | -201.15 | 4,132.62 |
| 4 | 318.36 | 57.73 | -260.63 | 0.7350 | -191.57 | 4,062.37 |
| 5 | 324.73 | 56.75 | -267.98 | 0.6806 | -182.38 | 3,993.31 |
| 6 | 331.22 | 55.78 | -275.44 | 0.6302 | -173.58 | 3,925.42 |
| 7 | 337.85 | 54.83 | -283.01 | 0.5835 | -165.14 | 3,858.69 |
| 8 | 344.61 | 53.90 | -290.70 | 0.5403 | -157.06 | 3,793.09 |
| 9 | 351.50 | 52.99 | -298.51 | 0.5002 | -149.33 | 3,728.61 |
| 10 | 358.53 | 52.08 | -306.44 | 0.4632 | -141.94 | 3,665.22 |
| 11 | 365.70 | 51.20 | -314.50 | 0.4289 | -134.88 | 3,602.92 |
| 12 | 373.01 | 50.33 | -322.68 | 0.3971 | -128.14 | 3,541.67 |
| 13 | 380.47 | 49.47 | -331.00 | 0.3677 | -121.71 | 3,481.46 |
| 14 | 388.08 | 48.63 | -339.45 | 0.3405 | -115.57 | 3,422.27 |
| 15 | 395.84 | 47.81 | -348.04 | 0.3152 | -109.72 | 3,364.09 |
| 16 | 403.76 | 46.99 | -356.77 | 0.2919 | -104.14 | 3,306.90 |
| 17 | 411.84 | 46.19 | -365.64 | 0.2703 | -98.82 | 3,250.69 |
| 18 | 420.07 | 45.41 | -374.66 | 0.2502 | -93.76 | 3,195.43 |
| 19 | 428.47 | 44.64 | -383.84 | 0.2317 | -88.94 | 3,141.10 |
| 20 | 437.04 | 43.88 | -393.17 | 0.2145 | -84.35 | 3,087.70 |
| 21 | 445.78 | 43.13 | -402.65 | 0.1987 | -79.99 | 3,035.21 |
| 22 | 454.70 | 42.40 | -412.30 | 0.1839 | -75.84 | 2,983.62 |
| 23 | 463.79 | 41.68 | -422.12 | 0.1703 | -71.89 | 2,932.89 |
| 24 | 473.07 | 40.97 | -432.10 | 0.1577 | -68.14 | 2,883.03 |
| 25 | -17.47 | 40.27 | 57.74 | 0.1460 | 8.43 | 2,834.02 |
Year 25 cost line is negative because the model credits the bounded end-of-horizon salvage against that year's cost stream. Cumulative discounted net remains negative across all 25 years; no payback crossing occurs.
Model assumptions (explicit bounded defaults)
The scenario model was given the bounded defaults below. They are model assumptions, not sourced facts. Each is bounded against the Pylontech US5000 datasheet where the OEM publishes a number.
| Input | Bounded default | Bound source |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon | 25 years | Model horizon. |
| Discount rate | 8.00 % per year | Model assumption. |
| residual_value.amount (USD) | 500.00 (end-of-horizon salvage) | Model assumption — bounded by used-market listings for US5000 4-stack, ≤25% of nominal system price. |
| residual_value.year | 25 | Model horizon. |
| asset.ess.usable_pct | 0.90 (90% DoD window) | Pylontech US5000 datasheet, 95% DoD operating window (model uses conservative 90%). |
| asset.ess.round_trip_eff | 0.95 | Pylontech US5000 datasheet (DC round-trip). |
| asset.ess.cycles_per_year | 330 (~1 charge/discharge per working day) | Model assumption — bounded by small-business backup duty profile (outage + daily peak-shave). |
| asset.ess.degradation_pct_per_year | 0.017 (1.7%/yr capacity fade) | Model assumption — consistent with Pylontech ≥6,000-cycle claim at 25 °C, 0.5 C, 95% DoD. |
| asset.ess.charge_cost_per_kwh (USD) | 0.110 (CFE industrial tariff, GDMTH reference) | Model assumption — CFE tariff schedule. |
| asset.ess.value_per_kwh_discharged (USD) | 0.130 (avoided-grid + outage value) | Model assumption — bounded by CFE DAC tariffs and published CIIBEM small-business outage-cost studies. |
| Year-0 CapEx (USD) | 3,574.06 | Sum of bounded landed-cost lines below; duties & IVA PENDING. |
CapEx — Reference Landed Cost (1 × Pylontech US5000 4-module rack, CN → MX)
| Line item | Value (USD) | Unit / Note | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-works unit price (Pylontech US5000, 4-module stack) | PENDING — quote via RFQ | USD per rack | OEM — to be attached to RFQ at tradvolt.com/rfq/ |
| Reference model input (FOB Shanghai, illustrative) | 2,800.00 | USD per rack | Model assumption — indicative bound based on Pylontech US5000 4-stack indicative pricing; final FOB via RFQ. |
| Sea freight CN → MX (CIF Manzanillo, ~40 kg) | 220.00 | USD per rack | Model assumption — indicative bound for 40 kg class on CN→MX east-bound lane; final via RFQ. |
| Marine insurance (0.3% of CIF) | 9.06 | USD per rack | Model assumption — standard 0.3% cargo all-risk bound. |
| Import duty (IGI) | PENDING — SIAVI sub-heading lookup | % ad valorem | SIAVI sub-heading lookup at sat.gob.mx/consultas/operacion/41051/siavi |
| DTA (Derecho de Trámite Aduanero) | PENDING — SIAVI / LFD art. 49 | MXN per operation | SIAVI sub-heading lookup |
| IVA (VAT) on dutiable value + IGI | PENDING — LIVA art. 1 | 16% reference; confirm current rate | SIAVI sub-heading lookup |
| Customs broker fee | 120.00 | USD per shipment | Model assumption — indicative bound for Manzanillo / CDMX broker engagement. |
| Pre-shipment inspection / cert legalization | 80.00 | USD per shipment | Model assumption — indicative bound for CN-side PSI + apostille/legalization. |
| Last-mile delivery MX (DAP buyer's warehouse) | 95.00 | USD per rack | Model assumption — indicative Manzanillo → CDMX DAP bound. |
| Installation & commissioning labor | 250.00 | USD per rack | Model assumption — indicative bound for 4-module stack commissioning + torque check per Pylontech install manual. |
| Total illustrative landed CapEx (pre-duty) | 3,574.06 | USD per rack | Sum of bounded model inputs; duties & IVA PENDING |
Numbers above are bounded model inputs only. IGI, DTA and IVA rates must be looked up against the official Mexico SIAVI sub-heading portal at the moment of quotation.
OpEx — Annual Operating Cost Reference
| Line item | Value (USD/yr) | Unit | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine preventive maintenance | 40.00 | USD/rack/yr | Model assumption — annual visual + BMS log review per Pylontech O&M manual. |
| Remote monitoring / SaaS (if applicable) | 30.00 | USD/rack/yr | Model assumption — indicative SaaS telemetry bound. |
| Cycle-based cell degradation reserve (LFP) | 55.00 | USD/rack/yr | Model assumption — bounded by ≥6,000-cycle claim on Pylontech US5000 datasheet. |
| Insurance (all-risk, storage) | 25.00 | USD/rack/yr | Model assumption — indicative all-risk bound. |
| Charge energy cost (CFE) | ~470.45 | USD/rack/yr | Model assumption — 4,276.80 kWh × USD 0.110/kWh (CFE industrial reference). |
| Avoided-grid-cost benefit (backup + peak-shave) | (-) ~556.00 | USD/rack/yr | Model assumption — 4,276.80 kWh × USD 0.130/kWh discharged value. |
| Net OpEx (year 1, computed) | ~64.67 (net cost) | USD/rack/yr | Net of maintenance + SaaS + degradation reserve + insurance + charge cost − avoided-grid value |
OpEx lines are bounded model inputs. Real-world savings depend on outage frequency, peak tariff design and the duty cycle of the connected load. Under these model inputs the rack is a net annual cost to operate, which drives the negative NPV shown in the summary table.
Compliance & Certifications (frameworks only — cert numbers PENDING)
| Framework | Scope | Cert # | Issuer | Specific source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UL 1973 | Stationary storage — cells | PENDING — confirm via OEM datasheet | UL Solutions | UL 1973 — Standard page |
| UL 9540 | Energy storage system | PENDING — confirm via OEM datasheet | UL Solutions | UL 9540 — Standards Catalog |
| IEC 62619:2022 ed2 | Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in industrial applications incl. stationary/ESS (TC 21/SC 21A) | PENDING — confirm via OEM datasheet | IEC | IEC 62619:2022 ed2 publication record |
| IEC 63056:2020 | ESS lithium battery safety (to 1500 V DC) | PENDING — confirm via OEM datasheet | IEC | IEC 63056:2020 publication record |
| CE (LVD / EMC) | EU conformity (LVD 2014/35/EU, EMC 2014/30/EU) | PENDING — confirm via OEM Declaration of Conformity | EU Notified Body (TBD per OEM) | CE marking — European Commission guidance |
| NOM (Mexico) | Mandatory local homologation path | PENDING — confirm with importer / NOM body | DGN / accredited NOM body | Secretaría de Economía — Normalización |
Cert numbers, issuers and frameworks are reference labels only. Final cert numbers and the issuing body must be verified against the OEM's datasheet and certificate attachments before shipment. Tradvolt does not represent these certificates as granted until the OEM's documents are attached to the RFQ thread.
Duty Stack — Mexico (CN → MX)
HS national line | Program | As-of: 2026-09-21 | SoT: PENDING
| Component | Reference | Rate | Specific source path |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS national line (TIGIE) — sub-heading lookup | Chapter 85, likely 8507.60 (lithium-ion accumulators) — confirm via SIAVI | PENDING — lookup | SIAVI — sub-heading tariff lookup |
| IGI (general import duty) | Per TIGIE national line | PENDING — lookup | SIAVI — sub-heading tariff lookup |
| Programa — PROSEC / IMMEX / other | Eligibility to be confirmed per importer | PENDING — lookup | Secretaría de Economía — PROSEC |
| IVA (VAT) on import | Ley del IVA, art. 1 | PENDING — lookup (16% reference) | SIAVI — sub-heading tariff lookup |
| DTA (derecho de trámite aduanero) | LFD art. 49 | PENDING — lookup | SIAVI — sub-heading tariff lookup |
| Countervailing / anti-dumping (CN origin) | If applicable per current resolution | PENDING — lookup | Secretaría de Economía — Prácticas desleales |
No rate has been hardcoded. Every rate on this page is marked PENDING and must be looked up in the cited official Mexican portals at the moment of binding quotation.
Sensitivity (around computed model output)
The base-case model output is NPV = USD -6,736.30 with no payback crossing in 25 years. The table below shows how the verdict shifts if two model-input drivers move; all other inputs held at their bounded defaults. Under every scenario shown the NPV stays negative and payback remains None.
| Scenario | Driver moved | Indicative simple payback (yr) | Direction vs. base NPV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base case | — | None | — |
| Higher outage / peak value (+50%) | value_per_kwh_discharged ×1.5 | None (still negative over 25 yr) | Less negative |
| Lower outage / peak value (-30%) | value_per_kwh_discharged ×0.7 | None (still negative over 25 yr) | More negative |
| IGI + 10 pp added to landed CapEx | Landed CapEx +10% | None (still negative over 25 yr) | More negative |
| IGI + 20 pp added to landed CapEx | Landed CapEx +20% | None (still negative over 25 yr) | More negative |
Arithmetic shown relative to the computed base-case cash flow. Directional only; do not quote these as substitute figures for the computed tables above.
Request a working quote
Submit the fields below. Tradvolt replies within 48 hours with an indicative FOB / CIF line and the OEM datasheet. RFQ endpoint: tradvolt.com/rfq/.
Reference product family used on this page: Pylontech US5000 — 48 V / 100 Ah LFP module, 4-module rack stack (nominal 14.4 kWh). Datasheet: Pylontech US5000 datasheet (PDF).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the verdict of this reference model?
NPV = USD -6,736.30; discounted payback = None; simple payback = None; IRR = -0.8818 (-88.18%); LCOS = USD 0.1831/kWh over a 25-year horizon at 8.00% discount. These are computed outputs of the scenario TCO model against a bounded reference scenario (evidence date 2026-09-21). They do not constitute a quote. Final pricing requires a Tradvolt RFQ at tradvolt.com/rfq/ with a confirmed OEM datasheet, freight terms and Incoterm.
What HS code applies to a 15kWh LFP rack battery imported into Mexico?
LFP rack batteries typically classify under Chapter 85 of the Mexican TIGIE — most likely 8507.60 (lithium-ion accumulators) for the cell-level classification. The exact national-line sub-heading, IGI rate, DTA and IVA must be confirmed via the SIAVI sub-heading lookup at sat.gob.mx/consultas/operacion/41051/siavi before quoting.
Which product family is used as the reference for this TCO?
Pylontech US5000 — 48 V nominal, 100 Ah per module, 4-module rack configuration giving nominal 14.4 kWh / usable ~13.1 kWh at 90% DoD. See the Pylontech US5000 datasheet (PDF).
Which certifications apply to a 15kWh LFP rack battery for Mexico?
Commonly referenced frameworks are UL 1973, UL 9540, IEC 62619:2022 ed2, IEC 63056:2020 and CE (LVD / EMC). Acceptance in Mexico is project- and utility-specific; certificate numbers and issuers must be verified against the OEM's datasheet before shipment, and NOM homologation is a separate path via SE / Normalización.
Can Tradvolt ship from China to Mexico?
Yes. Tradvolt supports CN→MX export flows. The buyer is the importer of record and is responsible for NOM compliance, customs broker engagement and final duty/VAT settlement through Mexico's official customs channel.
How long is the RFQ response SLA?
Tradvolt commits to a 48-hour reply SLA on working RFQs that include product_sku, quantity + unit, Incoterm, target certification, destination country, buyer email and buyer company.
Are the duty rates on this page final?
No. Every IGI, DTA and IVA rate on this page is marked PENDING and must be looked up against the Mexico SIAVI sub-heading portal at the moment of binding quotation. Tradvolt does not lock rates.
Source register (accessed 2026-09-21)
- Pylontech US5000 datasheet (PDF) — pylontech.com.cn US5000 datasheet PDF
- Mexico SAT — SIAVI (sub-heading tariff lookup) — sat.gob.mx/consultas/operacion/41051/siavi
- Secretaría de Economía — TIGIE — TIGIE landing page
- Secretaría de Economía — PROSEC — PROSEC
- Secretaría de Economía — Trade remedies (countervailing / anti-dumping) — Prácticas desleales
- Secretaría de Economía — Normalización (NOM path) — Normalización
- UL 1973 — Standards Catalog — UL 1973
- UL 9540 — Standards Catalog — UL 9540
- IEC 62619:2022 ed2 — publication record — IEC 62619
- IEC 63056:2020 — publication record — IEC 63056
- European Commission — CE marking guidance — CE marking
- UNECE — UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, 38.3 (UN 38.3, ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.7) — UN Manual of Tests and Criteria