Lithium-Ion batteries in Motorcycles?

[lkm]

After I killed my motorcycle battery with a deep discharge just barely 3-months installing it, many have asked me if I considered replacing it with a technologically newer lithium-ion, or specifically lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePo4) one. For awhile, I did explore to use the opportunity to “upgrade” to a lithium-based battery. But before that, let’s consider the merits and pitfalls of it…

 

LONGER LIFE?

Lithiums are said to “last longer” compared to lead acids. But in real world environments, due to heat and generally primitively designed charging circuits of motorcycles, that may or may not hold true or that the margin is relatively narrow than lab results may suggest. Note that lithiums generally require a “smart charger” and don’t take very well to over-charging. Whereas lead acids tend to be very forgiving to “dirty currents” and over-charging situations. So depending on how “smart” that additional charging circuitry is inside the lithium, the true longevity of it may vary.

 

WEIGHT SAVINGS?

Lithiums have significantly higher energy density as compared to their lead acid cousins. This means either very much LIGHTER if you compare 2 batteries at the same capacity, or very much HIGHER CAPACITY if you compare 2 batteries with the same weight – that’s their main advantage.

 

The weight savings “advantage” is...[continue reading]