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Old 01-01-2017, 06:31 AM   #59 (permalink)
Nautilus
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Romania
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Simba - '05 Seat Leon FR
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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.
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