Baterias de Lítio - BBDouro Boat Services

Advantages of Lithium Batteries for Boats

Discover with BBDouro Boat Services how the installation of lithium batteries ensures greater autonomy, more safety and a significant reduction in weight.
Energy management on board is one of the biggest sources of concern for any skipper. Running out of battery in the middle of a voyage, having to run the engine constantly just to load the service bench or dealing with excess weight on board are all too common situations.
Fortunately, technology has evolved. The BBDouro Boat Services team recently proved this by carrying out a new electrical installation on a customer’s boat, replacing the traditional AGM battery bank – the most common technology on the market – with a lithium system (LiFePO4).
Although this intervention requires additional equipment, the results justify the investment. If you’re considering upgrading your boat’s battery system, find out why lithium is the best option in the medium and long term.

THE REAL CASE

To understand the impact of this change, you only have to look at the figures for the boat our team intervened on.

– Old scenario (AGM):

The customer had five service batteries installed, totaling 500 amps at 12 volts. However, AGM technology has a limitation: only around 50% of the capacity can be used without compromising the durability of the batteries. In practice, the useful energy was only 250 amps.

As this type of battery does not tolerate deep discharges, it only took a few episodes of more demanding use to drastically reduce its capacity. The result: the customer had to replace the entire bank after just 4 years, when he would have expected it to last around 6 years.

– New scenario (Lithium – LiFePO4):

A system with 400 amps was installed, but with one essential difference: practically all of the capacity is usable.
Useful capacity: from 250A to 400A – a 60% increase in available energy
Total weight: from 165 kg to just 40 kg – an immediate gain in performance and boat balance
Baterias de Lítio - BBDouro Boat Services
Baterias de Lítio - BBDouro Boat Services

THE ADVANTAGES OF ON-BOARD LITHIUM

Although the initial investment is higher than that of a simple AGM replacement, the financial and operational return in the medium and long term completely transforms the browsing experience:

Superior durability: Lithium batteries can withstand deep discharges without compromising their lifespan. After 10 years, they retain around 80% of their capacity, which means you’ll still have around 320 useful amps – more than you had with the new AGM system.

Greater autonomy: With more energy available, you can stay at anchor for longer without using the engine. In addition, charging is significantly faster and more efficient.

Advanced safety: Includes intelligent safety levels. The system limits deep discharges and manages charging based on the individual voltage of each cell, ensuring optimum use of the batteries.

Modular system: Allows simple integration with other on-board systems, such as remote monitoring or solar panels.

MODERNIZE YOUR BOAT'S BATTERIES

If you’ve ever had to cut a weekend short due to lack of power, or if you feel that your batteries are no longer up to the job, it’s time to consider an upgrade.

The BBDouro Boat Services team is ready to assess your boat’s electrical system and design the transition to Jib. Talk to us and start planning your next adventure.
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