The Best Battery For RV, Lithium or Lead Acid?

Now is a time of transition in the battery environment; dinosaurs are competing against youngsters. Honorable lead-acid batteries are facing a serious challenger in the form of emerging lithium-ion batteries. When considering investing in a battery backup system, it might be useful to refer to some guidelines regarding the current state of battery technology.

Lead-acid batteries versus Lithium-ion batteries: which technology shall prevail in the telecommunications battle field? Let’s break it down, step by step.

The Advantages of Lithium Battery

1.Superior "Useable" Capacity

Unlike with lead acid batteries, it is considered practical to regularly use 80% or more of the rated capacity of a lithium battery bank, and occasionally more. 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 80 amp hours or more.

2. Extended Cycle Life

Laboratory results indicate that you could expect to see 2,000 to 5,000 cycles out of a well cared for LiFePO4 battery bank, which means that a lithium ion battery bank has the potential to likely outlast your RV! These are theoretical results – we are looking forward to seeing how lithiums do in reality for RV use, as the energy uses of a home-on-wheels is not normal laboratory conditions, nor at all similar to that of an electric vehicle (which is where LFP is primarily used right now). In contrast, even the best deep cycle lead acid batteries are typically only good for 500-1000 cycles.

3. Fast & Efficient Charging

LiFePO4 batteries can be "fast" charged to 100% of capacity. Unlike with lead acid, there is no need for an absorption phase to get the final 20% stored. This can save you hours of generator run time. And, if your charger is powerful enough, lithium batteries can also be charged insanely fast. If you can provide enough charging amps – you can actually fully charge a lithium ion battery just 20 minutes!

4. Very Little Wasted Energy

Lead acid batteries are less efficient at storing power than lithium ion batteries. Lithium batteries charge at nearly 100% efficiency, compared to the 85% efficiency of most lead acid batteries.

5. Fewer Placement Issues

LiFePO4 batteries do not need to be stored upright, or in a vented battery compartment. They can also fairly easily be assembled into odd shapes – an advantage if you are trying to squeeze as much power as possible into a small compartment. This is especially useful if you have an existing battery bay that is limited in size, but you want or need more capacity than lead acid is currently able to provide.

6. Size & Weight Advantages

LFP batteries are much smaller & lighter!

If you like going out on adventures with your friend in your RV camper, then you’d surely want to be able to use all (or most) of your RV appliances. This is especially true if you have small kids whom you want to instill a taste of adventure at a young age.

But if you frequently leave your home to go boondocking all year long, you’d need a battery that will last a long while. You would need one you can rely on even when you’re up in the mountains. You need one that would last you more than three years even if you frequently go off-grid. In short, you need to find a long-lasting battery. And there is nothing better than the best lithium battery for RV.

Lithium batteries can last for up to 3,000 cycles.Did that catch you interest?