Are you living and travelling in a van or maybe you’re thinking about taking your life on the road in a van? Excellent decision! But what kind of battery do you need to power all your new gadgets and appliances? Lithium batteries are the best option for van life, but there are a few things you need to know before making your purchase. In this blog post, we’ll explain everything you need to know about lithium batteries and how they can power your travels. Keep reading to learn more!
The lithium iron battery (LiFePO4 battery) is a type of lithium-ion battery using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) as the cathode material and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode.
These types of batteries have the capability of charging and discharging at high rates compared to other battery types. They can store more energy than lead-acid batteries and they also weigh less. This means that lithium batteries will last longer than other types while still being lightweight enough to be easy on a van’s suspension system for example or roof rack when transporting them around with ease.
People who are turned off by the initial cost of lithium batteries fail to consider the full cost over the battery’s lifetime. Because of their usable capacity and long lifespan, they are cheaper over the long run than lead-acid batteries. For example, you might go through three or four lead-acid batteries in the same amount of time as one lithium battery.
Depending on how they are used, lithium batteries can last up to 5,000 cycles and even longer if properly maintained, giving them several times the life expectancy of a standard lead-acid deep cycle battery.
Bainbridge Technologies use A-grade prismatic lithium iron phosphate cells (LiFeP04) that can withstand more than 5,000 cycles at 50% DoD and 3,000 cycles at 80% DoD. This equates to +10 years of life expectancy compared to 2-3 years of a lead-acid AGM.
Batteries made of lithium can weigh up to one third as much as those made of lead-acid AGMs. If you’re travelling in a van, you’ll need to consider this.
A 100Ah AGM deep cycle battery can weigh up to 38kg, but the same size lithium battery weighs less than 12kg. You will essentially be able to double, if not triple, the amount of stored battery capacity on your van, while optimising your space and reducing the weight of your vehicle.
Remember: Reducing weight helps with increased fuel efficiency and performance.
With lithium batteries, you can use more amp hours, which means more capacity (amp hours) before you need to recharge, and it is possible to use the battery for longer without causing any damage to it.
When living in a van, it’s crucial to choose the right type of battery with a larger capacity, like lithium. This is because many people work, charge multiple devices and have home accessories that need to remain connected.
There was once a time when lithium-ion batteries were viewed with suspicion, but this is no longer the case. In fact, lithium-ion batteries are now considered to be some of the safest on the market. And as an added bonus, they don’t degrade as quickly as other types of rechargeable batteries – meaning you’ll get more life out of your battery pack overall.
If you’re looking for a reliable and long-lasting power source for your van life adventures, then lithium-ion batteries are definitely the way to go. Learn about our range of lithium batteries including, our popular slimline, the slimmest lithium battery on the market! Thanks for reading, and happy travels!
Leaders in power product solutions. Bainbridge Technologies offer the largest range of high quality and reliable product solutions in Australia; including battery chargers, lithium batteries, solar power, inverters, inverter chargers, sockets, panels, meters, 12-volt accessories, and more.
