Lead is Dead: Why Lithium RV batteries are the Best Choice

Lithium RV batteries have been growing in popularity to the extent that they have pretty much now become the gold standard for RVers looking to maximize house battery power while boondocking and camping off-grid.

This week in Episode 385 of our RV Podcast, we interview two RV industry leaders to talk about lithium RV batteries - Sean Nichols of Battleborn Batteries and Jeff Runels, the President and CEO of Keystone RV.

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Why Lithium RV batteries are so much better than AGM and lead acid batteries

Lithium RV batteries began showing up more and more in RVs about five or six years ago. Over that time, as technology has improved and their ruggedness and reliability have been proven, they have become the standard for RVers who find themselves camping away from campground electric hookups.

Though still expensive ($1,000 for 100 amps is common), they have the benefit of weighing almost half as much as AGM batteries, being virtually maintenance-free, and charging faster, discharging more fully. When aired to solar panels, they can make RVs energy independent.

At the Tampa show, we caught up in separate interviews with Battleborn's Sean Nichols and Keystone's Jeff Runels. Both explained the appeal of lithium batteries.

Interview Transcript: The state of Lithium RV batteries today

Sean Nichols of Battleborn Batteries

Here is an edited transcript of our interview with these two industry leaders on lithium RV batteries:

Mike Wendland:

Why do you think lithium has become the standard or gold standard for RV batteries?

Sean Nichols:

Well, that's because lead is dead, Mike. Lead is dead. Lithium batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, a deep cycle storage solution that we sell here at Battleborn, and make and assemble here in the United States, is the new standard of deep cycle storage and RVs and Marine applications.

Lithum RV batteries out-preform AGM in warm AND cold weather

It's been proven over a number of years now and well trusted and believed in by consumers. It's been accepted by the community and the technology continues to innovate. So, now we offer a full line of heated batteries at Battleborn too. So, if you want to charge at cold temperatures, you can get those from us now, also. We have our same standard line without the heated option, also.

And I'll tell you what, we did a white paper number of years ago. Maybe like two years ago, called "Lead is Dead." It was a white paper about how a lead-acid battery can't perform well at any temperature.

So when someone says to me, "don't buy lithium batteries because you can't charge them in cold temperatures." I'm thinking, have you ever actually measured the amount of power that goes in and out of your lead acid battery, even at room temperature?

Because it doesn't perform well even at room temperature. And at cold temperatures,