Whether you're camping, caravanning or 4WDing, when it comes to off-road living, the battery system you choose is crucial. For most Aussies, the choice is narrowed down to options: lithium batteries or traditional lead-acid/AGM batteries.
Read More: A Guide on Auxiliary Batteries
AGM and lead-acid batteries have been a staple of the automotive market for decades, but lithium batteries have quickly gained popularity in recent years as a better alternative. But why are so many Aussie adventurers making the switch to lithium?
Let’s have a look at some of the key differences between the battery types and see why lithium might just be the better battery.
Lithium has a longer cycle life
One of the most significant advantages of lithium batteries is their cycle life and overall lifespan. The cycle life of a battery refers to how many times you can discharge 100% of the battery’s capacity and recharge it before it dies out or needs replacing.
Let’s compare a 100Ah lithium battery and a 100Ah AGM battery. If you were to continuously discharge 100% of the 100Ah lithium battery, you would achieve 2000-3000 cycles out of that battery, depending on the quality.
Now, do the same with the 100Ah AGM battery, and you would only get between 200-300 cycles. In summary, a lithium battery’s life cycle is about 10 times greater than an AGM battery.
Additionally, the lifespan of a lithium battery is much longer than that of an AGM battery. A typical lead-acid or AGM battery might last around 3 to 5 years, depending on usage, environmental factors, and maintenance. However, typical lithium batteries can easily last between 10 to 15 years, meaning you are getting more value for your money when buying lithium batteries.
Lithium batteries are lighter
Weight is an essential factor for off-grid travellers, especially those who are towing caravans or driving 4WD vehicles with limited storage. Lithium batteries are much lighter than lead-acid and AGM batteries, making them an excellent choice for those who need to conserve weight in their vehicle for better fuel efficiency and handling.
For instance, a 100Ah lithium battery can weigh around 12-15kg, while a comparable lead-acid or AGM battery could weigh 25-30kg. The reduced weight of lithium batteries means your vehicle or caravan will be lighter, improving fuel efficiency and making it easier to manoeuvre.
AGMs don’t offer as much usable energy
Lithium batteries have a better usable capacity than traditional AGMs.
This means you can utilise more of the battery capacity you paid for. The truth is that you won’t always get all of the capacity from your deep cycle battery. For each battery type, there is a recommendation for how much of that capacity you should use to maintain the health of your battery. This is known as the usable capacity.
For example, a 100Ah lithium battery has a recommended usable capacity of 80%. Therefore, you can only use 80Ah out of your 100Ah lithium battery.
However, a 100Ah AGM battery has a recommended usable capacity of 50%. Therefore, you can only use around 50Ah out of your 100Ah AGM battery.
Due to lithium batteries having more usable capacity, you won’t need as many batteries in your bank to achieve a certain capacity. This not only saves you weight and space in your motorhome, but also saves you money.
Read More: Calculating battery size for your caravan or 4WD
Lithium cells charge faster
Lithium batteries are more efficient to charge than AGM batteries. A lithium battery can fully charge in less time to get you back on the road faster and make it easier to maintain a reliable power supply.
If you fully discharge your 100Ah lithium battery, it will recharge quickly. This ability to charge and discharge in a short timeframe allows your entire charging system to be more efficient. Your solar panels are going to be able to produce more usable power for you, because they get that battery back to 100% quicker than they would an AGM.
In contrast, AGM batteries take more time to recharge fully. They have a lot of internal resistance, meaning that it charges more slowly the closer it gets to 100%. So they actually take quite a while to get from 90% to 100%.
The ability to charge and recharge at a quicker rate not only makes your whole system more efficient but also makes lithium batteries a standout option for those who are often on the move and need to quickly recharge during stops.
Lithium batteries are cheaper overall
It’s easy to look at the upfront cost of a lithium battery and dismiss it as the more expensive option. However, when you compare the key factors we mentioned above (lifespan, battery efficiency and battery performance) to the price of the battery, it becomes clear that lithium is actually cheaper in the long run.
Lithium batteries last longer than AGMs, so it’s easy to see your potential savings when you compare the price over a set amount of time. Let’s compare two 100Ah batteries, one lithium and one AGM:
If you bought the 100Ah lithium battery, it would cost you $699 for a roughly 12-year lifespan.
If you bought the 100Ah AGM battery, it would cost $279 for a roughly 4-year lifespan. Therefore, by the 12-year mark, you would have replaced the battery 3 times, and it would cost you a total of $837.
12-Year Timeframe:
- $699 for 1 Lithium Battery, OR
- $837 for 3 AGM Batteries
Of course, it’s important to remember the value of the batteries you’re comparing - a high-end lithium battery is obviously going to cost a lot more than a low-end AGM, but you get more for your money with the higher-end product. So, a price comparison is most beneficial when you compare batteries of the same or similar levels.
While lead-acid and AGM batteries may seem like a more affordable option initially, lithium batteries are the clear winner when it comes to long-term performance, durability, and efficiency. Whether you’re traversing the outback in a 4WD, exploring coastal regions in your caravan, or living off-grid in your motorhome, lithium batteries provide the power and peace of mind you need.
With their longer lifespan, lighter weight, higher efficiency, and ability to perform in extreme conditions, lithium batteries are an investment that will pay off for years to come. When it comes to off-grid adventures, make the smart choice and upgrade to lithium for a more reliable and enjoyable experience.
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Why Lithium is the Better Battery