Lightweight Batteries
 

Anybody using lightweight batteries in their car? The difference between dry cell batteries and lead-acid batteries is only about 20 pounds but I guess every bit helps. I'm thinking of using one but I'm not sure how well they perform.

Lithium battery replacement for automobiles and motorcycles

Lithium starting batteries, about 1/5 or less than the weight of lead acid.

When I buy an ATV I would like to try one of these. If I ever get real crazy about weight reduction in my car I might install one.

Edit: started looking around on there web site and found this:
http://www.lithiummotorcyclebattery.com/gallery.html
Note the picture with the caption "29 lbs 250cca vs 2.5 lbs, 300cca"

Wow what a good idea, lithium has been around for around 10 years I think it high time it should be used in automobile batteries. Now the clincher is its high price,This battery may cost upwards of $300 my guess anyhow wonder how much they do sell for..

Just looked up a $1000 example. Here's a "cheaper" one, the second row is 1.7lbs, 220 CCA for $160:

BATTERY SIZING - 12V ( Any voltage available )

Based on your starter cranking current.

Ah^ Wt./lb CCA dimensions $$
2.3 .7 110 4.5 x 1.2 x 3x3 90
4.6 1.7 220 4.5 x 2.2 x 3.3 160*
7.0 2.6 330 4.5 x 3.5 x 3.3 240
9.2 3.5 440 4.5 x 4.8 x 3.3 320
11.5 4.4 550 4.5 x 6.0 x 3.3 400

But for hypermile purposes you would need a "BMS" because, according to the the seller, undercharge events could destroy the battery. I don't know about you, but EOC in the dark is frequent for me in the colder months. Lights and radio run a battery down fast. BMS is $200 more. Pretty pricey battery!

I first moved my battery to the floor of what was the back seat. Then when I needed a replacement I got the smallest Lead-Acid. Saved 9 lbs over the stock battery. It's on the floor with a couple of straps so now I can experiment with other batteries and/or solar cells etc without worring about fitting the battery in the small tray under the hood. I might get deep cycle and do an alternator delete one day. All of those options are open now that I have it in on the floor in the back seat.

Here is a List of some sealed lead acid batteries Stealth 316 - Dyna-Batt Battery

ooops. I was not aware of the cost of these batteries. The difference in weight will never be able to pay off the batteries over the lifetime of the battery. Well, It sounded like a good idea at the time. Thanks for the input everybody.

Using lighter weight lead-acid batteries is still an option though :D

My main steed uses a kick starter only (with bump start backup) :P

I have to wonder if those A123 batteries would start the engine on their own or if it was the lead acid battery acting as a buffer that helped make that work.