THE HOLY GRAIL

Lithium-ion batteries have several times the energy storage capacity of an equivalent volume and weight of lead-acid batteries, and can be charged at extraordinarily high rates of charge to very high states of charge. They can be discharged almost totally without damage anywhere from hundreds of times to thousands of times. They are immune to sulfation and as such can be operated permanently in a partial state of charge.

Whereas the most efficient lead-acid batteries (AGM) are only 85 percent efficient at converting electrical energy into chemical energy and vice versa, lithium-ion is better than 95 percent efficient, resulting in far less heat generation during high-rate discharges and recharges—an important consideration with my current high charge rate experiments. This is an amazing set of positive characteristics. There are, however, some potential negatives.

PREVENTING FIRES

Every lithium-ion battery currently in the marine marketplace contains a flammable electrolyte, and all lithium-ion batteries can be driven into