The diagram below shows the number of cycles as a function of the depth of discharge for the PowerBrick, PowerRack and PowerModule product range : Number of cycles as a function of the depth of discharge for the PowerBrick, PowerRack and PowerModule product range 3/ Peukert’s Losses & Voltage Sag Virtually Non Existant This number of cycles can be greatly increased by reducing the depth of discharge (DoD). In contrast, even the best deep cycle lead acid batteries are typically only good for 500-1000 cycles.įor batteries, such as those produced by PowerTech Systems, using high quality cells, sorted and matched, 4000 to 5000 cycles can be delivered at 1C and 80% DoD. These cycle life results are much more better than NMC or NCA chemistries, massively used in electric vehicle industry. These values are dependent on the charge rate, the depth of discharge but more importantly on the quality of the cells used. However, these are theoretical values that could not be easily verified.įrom a practical point of view, and in real use, standard quality LiFePo4 batteries can deliver at least 2000 charge/discharge cycles at 80% DoD and 1C discharge rate, and the remaining capacity remains above 80%. Manufacturers and laboratories report that tens of thousands of cycles can be expected from a high quality LiFePo4 battery. Consider a 100 amp hour battery – if it was lead acid you would be wise to use just 30 to 50 amp hours of juice, but with lithium you could tap into 90 amp hours or even 100Ah (100% DoD). Unlike with lead acid batteries, it is considered practical to regularly use 90% or more of the rated capacity of a lithium battery bank, and occasionally more. And once you consider the advantages, Lithium-Ion batteries becomes exceedingly tempting. Known as LiFePO4 or LFP, these batteries have a slightly lower energy density but are intrinsically non-combustable, and thus vastly safer than Lithium-Cobalt-Oxide. This is one of the reasons that up until recently, lithium was rarely used to create large battery banks.īut in 1996 a new formula for mixing lithium ion batteries was developed – Lithium Iron Phosphate. This could lead to the battery setting itself on fire – and a lithium fire burns hot and fast. The commonly used lithium ion battery formulation had been Lithium-Cobalt-Oxide (LiCoO2), and this battery chemistry is prone to thermal runaway if the battery is ever accidentally overcharged. Lithium technology has become well proven and understood for powering small electronics like laptops or cordless tools, and has become increasingly common in these applications – edging out the older NiCad (Nickel-Cadmium) rechargeable battery chemistry due to lithium’s many advantages.īut as you might recall from the many news stories a few years ago around defective laptop batteries bursting into flame – lithium ion batteries also earned a reputation for catching fire in a very dramatic fashion. Lithium ion batteries on the other hand are a much newer invention, and have only been around in a commercially viable form since the 1980′s. This was the first type of rechargeable battery, invented way back in 1859. Lead acid batteries are made from (not surprisingly) a mixture of lead plates and sulfuric acid. Modular lithium battery pack (voltage up to 700v) Scalable Lithium-Ion Energy Storage System PowerStart 12V Starter Battery – 600CCA.For those who may cycle batteries everyday It could be over 10 years before Lithium batteries would show signs of reduced capacity. Lithium Batteries last for thousands of cycles so most coach owners may never know what it's like to see a lithium battery die. Predicting end of life for lead batteries can be almost impossible and they can fail without warning. Lithium RV Batteries can also withstand a wider temperature range than lead batteries and are less sensitive to temperature fluctuations. As a result Lithium batteries take up much less space than lead batteries that deliver the same power. Lithium batteries provide multiple times the energy density as compared to Lead Acid Batteries. Reduced Footprint & Weight allowing a more effective use of space.Lithium Batteries are arriving at a good time, RV manufacturers are facing some difficult challenges with respect battery life in motorhomes, These challenges are driving the need for Lithium Batteries in RV's that offer more flexibility when it comes to: A confluence of events is setting the stage for what may well be dramatic change in the battery industry that has not changed much in the past 40 years.
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