If anyone is interested in a longer lasting, larger capacity, and 70% lighter (~30 lbs less) battery, I am trying to put a group buy together for the following battery: https://www.lithiumion-batteries.com...on-battery.php


In standard format, the terminals are reversed, but the manufacturer will configure properly for the F-Type.


Depending on quantity, the discount could be as much as 20%.


EDIT: 50% weight savings

 

YES!

 

I am a bit puzzled since the charging requirements for a Lithium are very different from an AGM. Normally you would need to mess with the voltage regulator(old thinking) to achieve this, but in today's world you would need to modify computer settings. Is the manufacturer installing something on the front end that properly regulates the voltage and current to the battery?
Larry

 

I thought the same thing. Looks to me like these have a built-in charger. Why else would they be called 'smart' batteries? Really, the only way to make 'em compatible with an existing car's systems.

 

 

I think my $/lb threshold is lower than this. However, if I considered switching, I'd probably ask for a voltage vs. charge curve. As sensitive as these cars appear to be to battery voltage, and since they seemingly don't do a great job of keeping the OEM battery close to 100% charge, I'd be somewhat concerned with how these might perform.

 

I thought about this some more and I am not sure how they can do this. We already know that the stock charging regime is FUBAR. It does not fully charge the battery, its voltage is way too low most of the time. That is the input to the new battery and its regulator. I have trouble seeing how the new regulator can tell the computer to charge more when it does not even want to do the right thing with the stock AGM. I suspect you spend a bunch of money on a new battery and get a sub-standard performance from it. I think this is the primary operational problem with our car and it does not merit a bunch of money on Lithium technology. The Lithium battery does not fix the problem of low charging voltage from the Jaguar system.
Larry

 

I think your math is slightly off if this battery weighs 28 lbs. Aside from the obvious potential charging issues, $1000-$1100 plus shipping for 30 lbs is a bit steep when you might be able to get the same reduction from wheels/rotors which are unsprung. Unless you're thinking of doing all of the above?

 

It's more complicated than that. A charge controller should have a DC/DC converter in it, so it can convert the input voltage to whatever charging voltage generates the appropriate charging current, assuming the source can supply enough current. A smart controller controls the charging current as a function of temperature, current charge state, number of discharge cycles, etc.

 

Looking forward to seeing how this plays out. My SVR (with ceramic brakes) is requesting it ...

 

Yes, am indeed thinking of doing it all over the next 5-10 years. Regarding weight, my OEM battery weighs in at 57.6 lbs (just weighed it tonight). 29.6 lb actual weight savings is fairly close to ~30 lbs. Yeah...I don't know where I got that 70% number. It's more like 50%.

 

DJS:

I admit to being removed from a lot of technical developments anymore but I recently did a lot of research on advanced Lithium technology because I installed a bank in my travel trailer. This company has been in business for a while in the marine and remote location markets. The lithium charge controllers are very sophisticated because they must balance the cells in the battery and they must assure that the cells are not overcharged or get too hot. But none of this sophistication included voltage boosting to create voltage where it did not exist before. These systems are 12 or 24 vdc systems are very specific about the input voltages required. Clearly, the voltage has to be high enough to create the needed charging current in the bulk mode. I think it is just as clear that the output from the charging system in our cars is curtailed sooner than it should be; I saw that from my own data logging with an accurate voltmeter.
I would still be worried that you could spend a bunch of money on a lithium battery and not get sufficient voltage to fully charge the battery. While the lithium battery does not care about that, it would seem to be a waste of money.
Larry

 

Their website says their batteries typically weigh 70% less than lead-acid, so we know where Lance got that number.

Larry, you may be right. I assumed they would have to design it with a charge controller like I described, but they don't mention anything like that. Good info here:
https://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/knowledge-base.php

I'm an EE, so I described the way I'd design it. A little knowledge can be dangerous.

 

On a related note: after having a few batteries fail at around 6 years, I got in the habit of replacing the battery at 5 years. Just realized the starter battery in my soon-to-be-traded hybrid is over 8 years old.

Do you guys preemptively replace the battery, or wait for it to start failing?

 

I always replace at about 5 years on Pb-Acid. I went to 6 years on AGM's.

Larry

 

My car sits for up to 3-4 weeks at a time and always starts right up. Are most people having charging issues, or are just specific vehicles having issues?

Does seem pricey, but hey if we get 30lbs here, 40lbs on lighter rotors, I've already pulled about 50lbs with lighter wheels, start stop battery removal, trunk tools, engine cover delete. Now my porker sports car is down from 3850 lbs to 3700, same as my 4 door M3 Sedan LOL. 600HP tune on a 3700lb car, maybe I don't need a 570S after all.

 

I believe most of the charging issues were a result of the OBD port use issue. My car has sat for a month at a time without any starting issues.

 

$1000 for a battery for save a few pounds. Makes more sense to eat veggies and save weight that way. Pay yourself per $33/lbs lost in something you enjoy.

Got turned off on fancy batteries because of Optima and others did not live up to the hype.
If someone gets one of these and rages about how great they are in a review, maybe.

This guy bought a few of them for his boat. Skip to middle he's long winded.

 

I am curious why the last two batteries were different. Also, would have been nice for him to do some performance testing. (At least fire up the engines).


Here plus side of Li-Ion:


Here's the minus:

 

I ran a lithium ion on my S2000 and RX-7 for quite a while, never ran into any issues. I had planned on doing the same on my '14 S, but the two battery charging system gave me pause.