Is RVing Better with Lithium-Ion Batteries?

Lead-acid to lithium-ion RV batteries

Lead-acid batteries are great, make no mistake about it. As the oldest type of rechargeable battery, people have relied on them to power automobiles of all sorts, from golf carts to submarines and forklifts, since their invention…in 1859.

The RV industry has long relied on lead-acid batteries, which are proven, relatively inexpensive, and readily available. However, as lithium-ion technology has improved since its introduction in the late 1980s (with dramatic improvements in the last decade, especially), this type of battery has gained traction across industries and interests, including RVs. 

How do lithium-ion batteries work?

Li-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that use the reversible intercalation of positively-charged lithium ions into solids that can conduct electricity to store energy. For those of us who aren’t electrochemists, this describes the process of inserting or including molecules or ions into layered materials and structures (usually graphite) and channeling and storing the energy that activity generates. 

When charging

Since they are almost all powered by Li-ion batteries, let’s use a cell phone as an example: When you plug in your cell phone, the external power source pushes lithium ions from the cathode through the electrolyte to the anode inside your battery. Electrons balance the charge by flowing through an external circuit, and lithium ions are stored in the anode for later use. 

When powering (or "discharging")

When you use the stored power in your cell phone battery, lithium ions move back from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte, flowing back through the external circuit and powering the device. This process repeats itself thousands of times during a single charge/use cycle.

TLDR: Lithium-ion batteries shuttle lithium ions back and forth between the anode and cathode, storing and releasing energy in the process.

What are the advantages of lithium-ion batteries in RVs?

Lithium-ion batteries are a no-brainer for RVers who want more reliability, performance, and off-grid capability. From their efficient design to their value-add to your investment long-term, Li-ion batteries power the biggest adventures of today and tomorrow, for good reasons:

Slim, low-maintenance design

For starters, Li-ion batteries pack serious power into a compact casing. On average, they weigh about half as much as a comparable lead-acid battery and boast a significantly smaller footprint. For example, a 100 amp-hour Li-ion battery weighs about 31 pounds compared to 144 pounds for an equivalent lead-acid battery. 

It may be a comparably small contribution in the scheme of a large coach, but little things add up, and the extra space and weight capacity may be better allocated to bigger water tanks, additional storage, or more flexible floor plans. 

Size and weight aside, lithium-ion batteries also require less maintenance compared to traditional lead-acid batteries. Li-ion batteries experience minimal (if any) sulfation buildup, so they don’t need equalization charging or preventative maintenance and seldom require topping off like lead-acid batteries. 

Deep discharge means more - and better - power

Anyone who has owned an RV with a lead-acid battery knows that once the battery gets below 50% capacity, performance dips, causing voltage drops that wear out electronics. And going below that 50% threshold too frequently also shortens the battery’s lifespan. 

By contrast, Li-ion batteries can use up to 80-90% of their total capacity without taking damage, giving you almost twice as much energy from the same charge cycle and prolonging your time off-grid. No more worrying about whether you can run the stereo or microwave, no matter how far from shore power you wander.

Efficient, high-powered off-gridding

Many features that make 21st-century RVing great, whether you’re a Class A full-timer or an eco-conscious campervan life devotee, demand more from your energy supply. Smart TVs and sound systems, power recliners, and residential appliances drain power reserves pretty quickly once you’re off shore power.

Not so with a lithium-ion battery, especially if you invest in a solar array and an inverter-charger. These technologies allow RVers to explore further, longer, and more comfortably without plugging in. And when you do need to charge? Li-ion batteries charge up to two to four times faster than lead-acid batteries (depending on your charger and battery configuration). 

If you’re using solar energy, it translates to more solar-collected energy actually going into your battery. If you’re charging from shore power between stops, you’ll spend less time waiting around. And if you’re on a generator, it means less fuel burned and fewer hours of noise while the generator runs. 

Now, that’s good off-grid living. 

Better for the environment and your wallet

Luxury off-gridding doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet. Cleaner, greener technology is the present and future of RVing, and lithium-ion batteries play a significant role. 

Since they work well with solar energy, Li-ion batteries dramatically reduce the need for a generator, leading to less fuel consumption, fewer emissions, and a quieter RV experience for everyone. 

They’re also overall more energy-efficient, wasting less energy in charging and actually using most of the energy they store. This efficiency adds up over time in terms of lower costs for you and the environment. 

Cost-effective investment

Although lithium-ion batteries have a higher up-front cost ($800-1500 for a lithium-ion battery vs. $200-400 for a similar lead-acid battery), their charge efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and longer battery life more than pay for themselves.

A high-quality lithium-ion battery may last up to 10 years with fairly regular use. That’s 3000-5000 charge cycles, compared to 300-500 cycles you get out of lead-acid batteries, a tenfold increase. 

They also don’t degrade as quickly as lead-acid batteries if they sit unused. This means that if you need to store your RV seasonally, you won’t need to worry about de-winterizing for your first trip of the season and discovering a dead battery bank before you even get the playlist cranking. 

Less damage to appliances

Because Li-ion batteries deliver a consistent voltage all the way down to 10% of their total capacity, owners experience fewer appliance-damaging power surges. Thanks to this consistency, lithium-ion batteries protect your air conditioner, refrigerator (and everything in it!), and all of the other electronics that rely on your RV’s power supply. 

And don’t forget the (lack of) maintenance costs, both in terms of time and expense. No topping off water levels, no corrosion on terminals, no overcharging or overheating, less degradation, and far less worry.

Future-proof power supply

As for the future? More RV parks, national parks, and cities are embracing eco-conscious practices, including increased quiet zones and noise restrictions, limits on generator use, and improved supporting infrastructure for electric power, making an investment in Li-ion batteries an investment in the future. 

It’s also an attractive resale feature that won’t need to be retrofitted or upgraded for used buyers to get excited about your RV when you’re ready to sell and upgrade. 

Power your RV with lithium-ion batteries at Transwest

One of the best things about lithium-ion batteries is that the systems can be scaled to meet your specific needs. Our team is ready to help you get the most out of your power supply, whether you’re long-hauling at a resort with full RV hookups or off-gridding on solar power for months at a time.

Contact us or stop by a service location today for help powering your next adventure with lithium-ion technology.