Lithium batteries aren’t necessarily foreign terms when people discuss batteries nowadays, though there are several misunderstandings.
In today’s world, lithium batteries are everywhere, they are the source of power for a variety of electronic devices in the household as well as vehicles such as RVs, motorhomes, marines, etc., as well as store power from solar panels.
In this article we will explain a little bit about the inner workings of this type of battery (so that you can be more prepared when dealing with lithium batteries, and to understand what a good battery consists of), and also what certain advantages that lithium batteries have over other types of batteries.
After that, we will unravel the 5 best RV lithium batteries on the market right now and go over some FAQs. There are also some tips for choosing the best RV battery, so stay tuned.
Contents
- Lithium Battery Basics
- Best Lithium Batteries For RV: Top 5 Units
- 1. Weize 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
- 2. Battle Born Batteries LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery – 100Ah 12v Lithium Battery
- 3. ExpertPower 12V 100Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Rechargeable Battery
- 4. Renogy 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Lithium Battery
- 5. Ampere Time 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
- Critical RV Lithium Battery Considerations
- FAQs About RV Lithium Batteries
Lithium Battery Basics
What is an RV lithium battery?
The lithium batteries are, in contrary to popular belief, not lithium-ion batteries, but don’t be too surprised if you get these two terms used interchangeably, or if you’ve never heard of lithium batteries before.
The term “lithium battery” is used to describe lithium-metal batteries that aren’t rechargeable. In this article, we will still use the term lithium battery to describe all types of batteries that are related or have the word “lithium” in it.
The most popular type of lithium batteries is by far lithium-ion. It is rechargeable, and like all the batteries out there, the inside is made up of anodes and cathodes, electrolytes.
Other than that, there are also other components such as a separator, li-metal oxides, lithium ions, li-metal carbons, etc.
Believe me, you don’t want to look these up, unless you are a chemistry enthusiast of course. In fact, if you just want to get a glimpse of how the chemical reactions take place to produce electricity, just take a look at the next section.
How does it work?
As we have said before, lithium batteries can refer to lithium-metal or lithium-ion batteries, although they lean heavily in favor of lithium-metal.
However, here we will discuss the functionalities of lithium-ion batteries, since they are much more popular and are actually rechargeable and more reliable, which is a trait you won’t see in a lithium-metal battery.
Lithium-ion batteries work like this: the lithium ions move from the negative electrode (or cathode) to the anode while discharging and vice versa when charging. The traversal of lithium ions happens in the electrolyte, that is the liquid part of the battery.
You can look up the interior design for yourself. For lithium-ion batteries, the most common electrolyte is lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), a type of salt.
The positive electrode is made of a lithium compound, while the anode is made of graphite. As the ions move back and forth, electrical energy is generated.
Benefits of a lithium battery for RV?
There are quite a few advantages that lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries in particular, have over other types of batteries like RV AGM batteries or Gel batteries when it comes to powering an RV.
Lithium-ion batteries have high energy density, which means more energy will be stored in a smaller container compared to, say, a lead acid battery.
This means less space is allocated to storage of batteries. Lithium-ion batteries also boast low self-discharge, which obviously prevents quick drainage of charge and saves charging time.
Another benefit is that a lithium battery is generally deep cycle, which means the depth of discharge is mostly high on lithium batteries.
Let’s dive right into the list of best lithium deep cycle RV batteries.
Best Lithium Batteries For RV: Top 5 Units
1. Weize 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
Specifications:
- Brand: WEIZE
- Voltage: 12V
- Nominal voltage: 12.8V
- Standard charge voltage: 14.4V
- Standard charge current: 20A
- Max charge current: 100A
- Max discharge current: 100A
- Terminal: F12 (M8)
- Item weight: 26.4 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.71 x 6.49 x 8.34 inches
- Cycle: 2000
Why we love it:
This battery is one of the most popular lithium-ion batteries on Amazon. There are of course many benefits that come with buying this product. The warranty is up to 10 years, so you can get it fixed anytime you want. You can really tell that WEIZE has top-tier customer service from this alone.
About the battery itself, it is lightweight and built from sturdy material that is also claimed to be “environment friendly”. Sealed lead acid batteries are really good, but lithium-ion batteries are in a league of its own.
They are similar in that both types are versatile. WEIZE’s battery can be used in solar systems, RVs, camping, etc. The manufacturers reassured us that the battery is very chemically stable and won’t catch a fire or overheat even if you used it wrongly (for example, you puncture it by mistake, or drop it a few times).
One of the best things that come with this battery is the BMS (battery management system). You can find it on other lithium-ion batteries that we recommend below. Like the name suggests, this system will keep your battery from being overcharged, short circuiting, over current, and the likes.
In the advent of short circuits, for example, the BMS will shut off the battery, and after that, the battery will reactivate. It is really convenient and smart. Definitely one of the best 12 volt lithium rv batteries out there.
Things We Like:
- Lightweight, so that you can easily install it anywhere
- Has great value and warranty schemes
- Has BMS, made from environmentally friendly materials
Things We Don’t Like:
- Shipping might not come as expected
- Be careful of the defective products, yours might be one of them (this rarely happens, though, just thoroughly check and make sure you get your replacement if your product turns out to be flawed)
2. Battle Born Batteries LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery – 100Ah 12v Lithium Battery
Specifications:
- Brand: Battle Born
- Voltage: 48V, 12V
- Item weight: 29 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.75 x 6.88 x 9 inches
- Cycle: 3000-5000
Why we love it:
This is one of the most highly rated 12 Volt lithium RV batteries on Amazon. If you are new to batteries, or you are looking for a lithium-ion replacement to your previous AGM batteries, then this is the upgrade you might want for your RV, solar system, camping trips, boats, off-grid living.
What makes this battery stand out is in its ability to charge repeatedly and more quickly than any other batteries, even lithium-ions. It allegedly is a green energy battery, in that it is manufactured from green materials and renewable energy.
The item weighs only 29lbs, so you can expect to carry it around pretty handily. Although it is a little pricey, much more so than the previous one on our list, the benefits given to us customers should balance that out.
Remember that, if a battery is more expensive, chances are they also happen to be of higher quality as well. Don’t be frugal with your money when it comes to batteries.
Another thing about this BB battery is that its longevity beats out a lot of competitions. You get around 3000-5000 cycles, charging itself is quick, what else could you want out of a battery? Like many good batteries out there, BB incorporated the automatic BMS into their batteries.
This means you don’t have to worry about mistreating your own battery, because it stops you before you can even do so.
The final thing I want to mention about this battery is that it supports 100% depth of discharge. This definitely is a decent camper lithium battery to bring on your every trip.
Things We Like:
- Lightweight, so that you can easily install it anywhere
- Has BMS, made from environmentally friendly materials
- Fast charging times
Things We Don’t Like:
- Most good things are expensive these days! The same applies with this battery
- In order to use it with solar systems or RV controllers, you might want to check first whether or not the control panels have options for lithium batteries. Some of the times customers have had to buy new controllers or even alternators. If you’re in the same situation, lithium-ion conversion might be too costly for you.
3. ExpertPower 12V 100Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Rechargeable Battery
Specifications:
- Brand: ExpertPower
- Voltage: 12V
- Nominal voltage: 12.8V
- Charge voltage: 14.4V
- Item weight: 22.6 lbs
- Dimensions: 13 x 6.8 x 8.4 inches
- Cycle: 2500-7000
- Max discharge current: 100A
- Operating Temperature: Discharging: -4°F to 140°F; Charging: 32°F to 140°F
Why we love it:
I bet most of our readers haven’t heard of this brand before, but what matters is that their products have been of exceptional quality, especially when it comes to sealed lead acid. Ever since they switched their focus to producing li-ion batteries, we’ve been thrilled at the results.
The battery is stated to have a 10-year lifespan, which is a bold claim. They also boast up to 2500 – 7000 cycles, so it is not hard to see how outpaced SLAs are. Not to mention, the price shows how much of a great deal this is. You can purchase one on Amazon for around $600.
The efficiency is easily seen in the flat discharge curve (where the voltage stays still) being maintained in 95% of the capacity.
Like most good lithium-ion batteries, having a battery like this saves space, weight and has good longevity compared to a sealed lead acid. You can also drain the battery power level down to 10% without damaging them, so for a 100Ah battery, you are getting to use up almost all of the capacity before having to charge again.
In fact, the manufacturer claims that you can fully charge the battery, and then store it for up to 1 year at the right temperature. We haven’t tested that out, but that would definitely mean more flexibility for the users.
Things We Like:
- Lightweight, saves space, has a built-in BMS
- Has good value (although a little bit on the expensive side), good tech support
- Warranty only lasts for up to 5 years
Things We Don’t Like:
- Might take a bit of time to charge, some trailer connector cable is not suitable for charging.
- Might have to double check that you can return it/ have a replacement if the product is damaged.
4. Renogy 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Lithium Battery
Specifications:
- Brand: Renogy
- Voltage: 12V
- Item weight: 26 lbs
- Dimensions: 11.4 x 6.8 x 7.4 inches
- Cycle: 4000+
- Continuous discharge current: 100A
- Storage Temperature：-13~149℉ / -25~65℃
Why we love it:
Renogy has always been a leading brand when it comes to battery products. The Renogy LiFePO4 battery brings a breath of fresh air, especially when battery trends are transitioning to lithium batteries. As before, we talk about how lightweight, higher energy density, exceptional cycle life, that these batteries have over AGM SLA batteries.
What sets it apart from others of its kind is the real-time monitor. There are communication ports that allow communication between the batteries, external devices and computers. With this, you can use bluetooth, or use a monitoring screen to get in touch with the real-time state of your battery.
One more thing that is also innovative on this battery is the auto-balancing function, something we’ve never seen before. If you have two or more of these batteries and you want to wire them together, then this function will enable auto-balancing between the batteries, increasing the overall efficiency of your battery system.
An even more mind-boggling fact about this battery is that there exists an activation switch that allows the battery to enter low-self-discharge-rate mode at will, which will come in handy once you decide to store it for later use. It is one of the best choices for RVs, Marines, cabin, and off-gridding in general.
Things We Like:
- Comes with a whole lot of state-of-the-art features: auto-balancing function, activation switch, real-time monitor
- Has all the standard benefits of the other products on this list: BMS, long cycle lifespan, etc..
- Made from safe, renewable energy, sturdy material
Things We Don’t Like:
- Same cons as the above, mostly people say that it is too overpriced, and that you have to replace the solar controller for it to work with lithium batteries.
- Bluetooth is not reliable when it comes to monitoring voltage, some customers have had to buy external products to resolve the issue.
5. Ampere Time 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
Specifications:
- Brand: LiTime
- Voltage: 12V
- Nominal voltage: 12.8V
- Charge voltage: 14.6V
- Item weight: 24.25 lbs
- Dimensions: 13 x 6.82 x 8.48 inches
- Cycle: 4000+
- Max discharge current: 100A
- BMS board: 100A
- Terminal type: M8
- Operating Temperature: Charge: 0℃ to 50℃; Discharge: -20℃ to 60℃
Why we love it:
There are plenty of choices for the Ampere Time LiFePO4 deep cycle battery, however, we will be reviewing the 100Ah version only. This battery has up to 4000+ cycles, and we love it. More cycles means better longevity. Like its competitors, this battery only takes up a very small space and is around as heavy as a 2-year-old baby. It is incredible how technology has evolved.
What I think is interesting about this battery is that there is no memory effect, so as soon as it is fully charged, you can use it. It can be discharged all the way, but keep in mind that partial charge/discharge is always better when it comes to maintaining longevity. Charging at freezing temperatures is not even a problem, so trust me when I say that it is much more convenient than a sealed lead acid.
This is probably even cheaper than some SLAs out there. The quality of build is superb, it is waterproof, safety is guaranteed (based on a UL Testing Certificate). You can be assured that this battery is going to last up to a decade maintenance-free. Use it to power your RV, motorhomes, and you won’t regret it at all. One of the best 100ah lithium batteries you will ever find.
Things We Like:
- Maintenance-free, has BMS
- 100% state-of-charge, 100% depth-of-discharge, very lightweight for its size
- IP65 level waterproof, vibration-resistant
Things We Don’t Like:
- This battery is best used for energy storage, so starting an engine is not what you would want to do.
Critical RV Lithium Battery Considerations
Capacity
One cannot simply go in purchasing lithium batteries without looking at its capacity first. Whatever brand you come across will probably have a multitude of batteries with different capacities for different needs.
Lithium and especially lithium-ion batteries are capable of discharging the whole way down, so you are essentially getting to use all of the capacity, this is unlike the case of SLA batteries.
With a battery for most off-grid usage, a 100Ah is going to be enough in my opinion. This happens to be the standard number for our reviewed products above as well. There is a tiny bit of difference when it comes to li-ion batteries for RVs and motorhomes as well.
If you are looking for RV lithium ion batteries, then 50Ah to 100Ah is enough, but lithium batteries for motorhomes should be higher in capacity, in order to allow for powering additional electronics from the motorhome as well.
Cycle Life
The cycle life is an important concept as well as a key point for consideration when it comes to buying a lithium-ion battery. Batteries’ lifespan isn’t gauged easily. However, you can get an approximation out of the number of cycles that you can use it for.
One cycle can be from 100% to 0% and back, or 100% to 50% and back, etc but the readings of cycle life on most batteries refer to the former. From here you can estimate the effective longevity of the battery. This is definitely one of the most crucial points you can’t ignore on a battery.
Cycle Depth
This is not so much a factor when you want to compare different lithium batteries. As we have established so many times before, most li-ion batteries are capable of 100% DOD. (Although, just because they are capable doesn’t mean you should discharge them so extensively).
Energy Density
This is largely overlooked, since there aren’t many manufacturers who actually put this on display on their products. However, this is a figure that can be manually calculated using a calculator. You can follow this formula to get the right results: nominal battery voltage (V) x battery capacity (Ah) / battery weight (kg).
This will give a result in the Wh/kg unit. Of course, the higher the better. This way you will save more space (this is true most of the time, not always).
Size & Weight
When it comes to purchase a battery for RV use, campers have to choose whether using a 12 volt battery or 6 volt RV batteries wired in series to power for your camping needs. However, most lithium-ion batteries are 12 volt.
High quality lithium-ion batteries weigh just around 25-30lbs, the weight of a 2-year-old baby. Thanks to their advanced core technology, they can weigh just around 1/3 of an SLA battery that has the same capacity.
Ease of Use
I think there is no battery instruction that is too hard to grasp. After all, it is just a battery. Some of the times though, you will encounter batteries that are super convenient, for example, the Renogy battery that we have listed above is a good start.
With this battery, you can monitor the voltage of your battery in real-time, which is sure to come in handy when choosing a charging voltage, or when you need maintenance.
Also, with the auto-balancing function, a link between the batteries can be easily established, this saves you the time to think about how to connect them.
Durability
This one is definitely hard to say which is which, unless you try to pit them together in a wrecking contest. In this regard, I would say you should consult the salesperson for more information, or pick the more reliable, well-received brands.
Price
Most people are inclined towards buying products from larger brands, and it is a really nice guarantee of quality. I totally agree with this. You should pick a brand of your liking, and then pick the model that fits your needs. Finally, go for the highest price you are willing to pay.
FAQs About RV Lithium Batteries
1. Is it worth switching to an RV lithium battery?
If you want to run all of the gadgets and appliances within your RV, then I cannot think of a better choice than a Renogy lithium-ion battery. Whatever type of battery you had before, wouldn’t come close to the level of power and versatility that lithium batteries offer. Take sealed lead acid batteries for example.
A lithium-ion battery is better in every way: 1/3 the weight, maybe smaller in size, much higher energy density (which means you gain more energy from a li-ion battery than an SLA of the same size), most high-quality products provide a built-in BMS which can’t be found anywhere on an SLA, you don’t have to worry about spillage of electrolytes, overheat or accidental fires caused by misuse of a lithium battery, ever.
The only downsides to a lithium battery compared to an SLA is its price range being far beyond what most people are willing to pay, and also longevity is debatable between the two types of batteries (that’s only if we bring the best SLA batteries into the discussion).
But hey, you were willing to dish out tens of thousands of dollars for an RV, right? Why not give your almost flawless RV life the battery that it deserves? I’m sure you’ll be surprised one you switch to lithium-ions.
2. How long would a lithium battery for RV last?
This is a rather tough question to answer, because how long a lithium battery lasts is entirely dependent upon the number of effective charge cycles for that battery, as well as how often you use it.
The average 300-500 charge-cycle batteries last for 2 or 3 years. A 100% charge cycle is a charge/discharge from 100% to 0% and back, while a 50% charge cycle can take place between 25% and 75%. Rather than utilizing 100% charge cycles, someone who uses a 50% charge cycle will notice a significant difference in terms of longevity (1.5 to twice the duration) if they intend to compare them.
With these numbers on hand, you can roughly interpolate the lifespan of your lithium battery. There is no definition of lithium batteries exclusively for RV.
In general, you can use most lithium batteries on your RV, although for different brands of RVs and batteries, you will have to deal with certain subtleties when installing it. Batteries with charge cycles of 4000+ are top of the chain, and they will last for 10+ years and even up to 20 years absolutely maintenance-free (only if you know your battery well, as well as have some tricks up your sleeve). In the end, this is just another arbitrary number that depends on the user.
3. What Is the best brand of lithium battery?
There does not exist a brand of lithium battery that is a cut above the rest, since most of the core technologies are present in luxury and regular household batteries alike. There isn’t much manufacturers can add to their products for them to massively outperform others.
However, if we are talking about the most reliable brands, which have the best customer service and batteries that aren’t faulty and actually last for a long time, then just have a look at the big companies such as Panasonic, LG, or Tesla.
When it comes to electronics, I personally feel the most secure when I get to use a Panasonic. They have excellent, devoted customer service. After all, it is a Japanese company, so they should have good policies for customers as well as a standard for their employees to follow. In addition, their products are exceptionally high quality, lithium batteries are no exception.
Besides the big brands, brands like WEIZE, Renogy, Ampere Time, all have products that are competitive, like the ones above. As a final note, I would go for either Renogy or Panasonic if I’m in the US, but the other brands know what they’re doing as well.
4. What is the difference between lithium and lithium-ion batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are a type of lithium battery, so of course when we compare the two, there is a difference.
Besides lithium-ion batteries, there are also lithium metal batteries, which refers to batteries that have metallic lithium as an anode. That probably makes you wonder why we haven’t included any lithium metal batteries on the list above.
Well, a lithium metal battery is an entirely different battery geared towards an entirely different niche market. You can regularly see this type of battery in your kids’ toys, as well as remote controls for various household electronics.
This type of battery is non-rechargeable, so when they run out of energy, you can only throw them away or recycle them. Most batteries of this type are small and operate at 1.5V or 3.7V. So, strictly speaking, lithium-ion batteries are just a sub-type of lithium batteries.
5. Do you need a special charger for lithium-ion batteries?
The answer is no, you don’t need a special charger at all. Though there are chargers that come specifically with the lithium-ion batteries that you buy, you can always charge that same battery with lead-acid batteries.
What you need to do in case you lose one and are waiting until you can get your hands on a new one, is to set the charger to maximum voltage and charge it. As long as the charger doesn’t have an automatic equalization mode enabled, the charging proceeds without a hitch.
The details are available online, you can check it out whenever you can. There is something you must take care not to do though. You cannot trickle charge lithium batteries the same way you do with lead-acid batteries.
This means you cannot keep it topped off. However, lithium-ion batteries can be fully discharged, and thanks to that, there is little to no threat of leaving your battery unused for some time.
Still, you don’t want to leave it in that state for a long time, as it is detrimental to the longevity of your battery. Believe me when I say, the charger is not the problem when it comes to lithium-ion batteries, sometimes you might have to pay extra for compatible electronics if you want to use it on your favorite RV.
