View Single Post
Old 01-01-2017, 05:31 AM   #59 (permalink)
Nautilus
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Romania
Posts: 45

Simba - '05 Seat Leon FR
Thanks: 22
Thanked 29 Times in 17 Posts
The fact lithium ion doesn't do very well at low temps in terms of power is a minor problem. We can always use a bigger one. The worst thing is lithium-ion doesn't charge properly at low temps, it gets damaged if you try. Lead / gel / AGMs love freezing temps, the colder the better. They die at temps over 35°C (95°F), which are pretty usual even under the insulation layers used in modern cars (fiber battery blanket + plastic battery box).

So for someone living in warmer climates, as in the Mediterranean or Southern US, lithium may be best option to get a lightweight (2-5kg) battery for a reasonable price. A small AGM + capacitors cope better with climates where temps may jump from -15°C in winter to 35°C in the summer.

There is also a pretty easy way to cool your battery in the summer, if the car has a battery box from factory. As the engine draws a huge amount of air, thousands of cfm at 6000 rpm, we fit two pieces of wire-wound hose. One from front grill to a hole drilled in the battery box; the other from a hole on the opposite side of the box to the engine air filter. It makes the strongest air flow one can get, throughout the battery box.
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Nautilus For This Useful Post:
oldtamiyaphile (01-01-2017), redpoint5 (01-07-2017)