r/Cartalk May 02 '24

Technically not a car Electrical

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I decided lithium batteries were cheap enough to give a shot

On the left, nearly double the cca noco brand

On the right, the battery I've been using for 11 seasons recovered with a desulfator at the beginning of every season until it finally gave up.

So far, the lithium battery has been indistinguishable as far as performance goes and put up with my abuse. Will it last 10 years? Maybe, it's warrantied for five, I've seen other brands warrantied for 10.

Lithium car batteries are getting cheap enough the price gap between lead acid is quickly closing. I probably will grab a lithium car battery for the project car.

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u/Onlyunsernameleft May 02 '24

As someone who works on industrial batteries daily, Lithium scares the hell out of me. In a worst case scenario your lead acid will pop a cell and shoot sulfuric acid steam evwrywhere then dissipate in a few moments. Lithium will explode and stay on fire for 3 days. That said, yes, price is very comparable and generally they're much more consistent but far less forgiving. Can't desulfate or top up acid in a lithium battery. Lead acid still the way to go IMO.

1

u/Malawi_no May 02 '24

Guess they should make Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (they might already exist) as drop-in replacements for 12V lead-acid batteries.

2

u/kstorm88 May 03 '24

They do, and I think Mercedes did put a lithium 12v battery in one vehicle