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Thread: Lithium Ion motorcycle battery in a car?

  1. #1
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    Lithium Ion motorcycle battery in a car?

    Looking for a battery to mount in the boot.
    I came across these for $340.
    Read the specs and design info on the left side of link. They are pretty amazing.
    SSB PowerSport > Products > Product List

    They only weigh 1.7kgs.
    They are rated at 700 cold cranking amps.
    They mention that they are designed for motorcycle use and not a replacement for cars.
    Any idea why and whether they can be used in a car.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Redliner View Post
    Looking for a battery to mount in the boot.
    I came across these for $340.
    Read the specs and design info on the left side of link. They are pretty amazing.
    SSB PowerSport > Products > Product List

    They only weigh 1.7kgs.
    They are rated at 700 cold cranking amps.
    They mention that they are designed for motorcycle use and not a replacement for cars.
    Any idea why and whether they can be used in a car.
    A mate at work just fitted a lithium ion battery in his dirt bike. It weighs about as much as a can of coke and is about the same volume. Easily a third of the size of the original battery.

    TBH having seen what Anthony found on corner weighting, the only reason to fit a smaller battery is to bin the std airbox. Otherwise you are moving a good amount of weight of the corner of the car that probably needs it the most.

    Not sure I'd go to the trouble, except for the aesthetics.

    Gavin

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    I am moving it because the intercooler piping and CAI piping now go straight thru where the battery used to sit.
    But I agree, I wouldn't move it otherwise. Plus I am hoping the Wavetrac makes up for the weight transfer.
    Is there any reason why they wouldn't work in a car?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Redliner View Post
    I am moving it because the intercooler piping and CAI piping now go straight thru where the battery used to sit.
    But I agree, I wouldn't move it otherwise. Plus I am hoping the Wavetrac makes up for the weight transfer.
    Is there any reason why they wouldn't work in a car?
    You should be alright, they say that they're for cars as well. SSB PowerSport > Products > Product List
    and are designed to be charged by the alternator or/and a battery charger.

    These batteries are ridiculously light, I had one in my hand and it was about the weight of the tissue box.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Redliner View Post
    I am moving it because the intercooler piping and CAI piping now go straight thru where the battery used to sit.
    But I agree, I wouldn't move it otherwise. Plus I am hoping the Wavetrac makes up for the weight transfer.
    Is there any reason why they wouldn't work in a car?
    Check to make sure it's ok with the high output alternators on cars compared to bikes. In case there's a max current they can handle.
    Also check what you do to charge them if flat. Might not be able to use a conventional charger?? Never looked up that information myself.

    Gavin

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    You would need something like 2 gauge ( 2 B & S) wiring back to it to stop voltage drop for cranking.

    That is about $11 a meter and would weigh as much as the battery LOL.

    Had about 15 meters running through my Cruiser.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hillbilly View Post
    You would need something like 2 gauge ( 2 B & S) wiring back to it to stop voltage drop for cranking.

    That is about $11 a meter and would weigh as much as the battery LOL.

    Had about 15 meters running through my Cruiser.

    Only need to run the positive cable. Plus I have two massive cables running up to the power amps that I can now shorten.
    Probably a net weight decrease in my case.

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    Quote Originally Posted by h100vw View Post
    Check to make sure it's ok with the high output alternators on cars compared to bikes. In case there's a max current they can handle.
    Also check what you do to charge them if flat. Might not be able to use a conventional charger?? Never looked up that information myself.

    Gavin
    Good point but I don't think thats the reason why based on quote from website:
    "SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are also one of the only Lithium Ion Polymer Batteries that can be charged using normal 12V car battery chargers / alternators. SSB PowerSport Lithium Batteries are also 100% organic, fully recyclable and pollution free, making them an excellent green energy source"

    There must be something else though based on this quote again from website:
    "Because of its extremely high CCA some customers make the mistake of using the lithium batteries to replace much larger lead acid types. Please note that these are motorcycle batteries and they are not designed for use in cars or to replace much larger lead-acid batteries"

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    Quote Originally Posted by Redliner View Post
    Lithium Batteries are also 100% organic, fully recyclable and pollution free, making them an excellent green energy source
    I would take issue with that claim - it's total nonsense in my opinion

    Note following from the web site

    Electrolyte inside the battery is harmful to skin and eyes
    I use LiPo and LiIon batterys in my radio controlled helicopters
    Both of these batteries use different charging procedures to car batteries
    You can't trickle charge these batteries and you must not over charge them, that will damage the battery
    LiIon is charged under no load with constant current until cell voltages reach a defined value
    The current is then backed off for charging stage 2, saturationg charging, after which the battery is fully charged
    The electronic chargers monitor each cell inside the LiIon battery (I assume these are 4 cell batteries)

    In a car, we can't charge under no load and the car charging system is more like a trickle charge and we can't monitor individual cell voltages
    (Although, we do use notebooks while charging, most notebooks are using LiIon)

    LiIon is generally not able to deliver massive sustained currents (LiPo can but is a more dangerous package)
    These LiIon batteries will give a short burst of high current but won't like a lot of cranking

    I don't understand how motorbikes will look after this battery type

    I would not use this battery type in my car

    I am aware of a few cases where people have use a LiPo battery in their race cars to save weight
    These have been publicised just after implementation, no details on charging arrangements and no long term usage/experience information
    (In a crash a LiPo battery is a safety liability - I doubt CAM's events would allow them to be used)
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  10. #10
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    Okay, I just called the company direct and Martin you are pretty much spot on. They are not recommended for cars because the car alternators can over charge them. They do make a LiIon car battery for race cars but they are $1420. A bit over my budget.

    The good news is that I mentioned I was looking at the Full River HC28 ($179) and he mentioned that they have better batteries for cheaper.

    CBC12V26H is exactly the same size as the Full River but supplies 500cca for only $80.

    They have fireproof plastics and can be mounted upside down. Better warranty as well.

    I may look at the CBC12V22AH which is 350 CCA for only $60 if I can fit it in the rear quarter area above the wheel arch as it is only 77mm thick. Get to keep my spare.

    Links:
    Fusion AGM Batteries > Products > Product List

    Thoughts?

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