If you own or are thinking about owning an RV, you might have heard a lot about lithium batteries lately. They’re becoming more and more popular for powering everything from lights to appliances in RVs. But what exactly are lithium batteries, and why are they so important for RV life? Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand!
NOTE: This article explains lithium battery basics, but is not intended to replace the information provided by manufacturers about their specific products. Please refer to the manufacturer’s websites or professional installers if you have questions or are unclear about anything. While RV batteries are low voltage DC, they are still electricity, and it is extremely important to install your batteries properly.
What Is a Lithium Battery?
A lithium battery is simply a type of rechargeable battery that use lithium as the main material inside them, which is different from the lead and acid used in traditional RV batteries. Depending on the type of lithium battery, it is combined with other materials depending on its use. RV batteries tend to be what is called LiFePO4, which is the chemical way to say that it has Lithium, Iron, Phospherus and Oxygen.
Why Are Lithium Batteries Special?
You might be wondering, “Why should I choose lithium over regular batteries?” Great question! Here are some reasons why lithium batteries are so awesome for RVs:
1. Longer Life
Lithium batteries last much longer than traditional batteries. If you’ve ever had to replace the big, bulky lead-acid battery in your RV, you know it can be a hassle. Well, lithium batteries last up to 10 years or more, while traditional batteries might need replacing after just 3-5 years. That means you get more use out of your investment.
2. Faster Charging
Lithium batteries charge faster than older lead-acid batteries. So, if you’re out camping and you’ve run out of power, a lithium battery will recharge more quickly, so you can get back to enjoying your trip faster.
3. Lightweight
Lithium batteries are much lighter than traditional lead-acid batteries. For example, a lithium battery that stores 100 amp-hours (a measure of battery capacity) can weigh about HALF as much as a lead-acid battery with the same amount of power! This means you can worry less about the heavy weight of the battery in your RV, or came install twice as much power at the same weight.
4. More Power, Less Space
Lithium batteries are very efficient. They can hold more energy in a smaller size compared to traditional batteries. This means they can power your RV’s lights, fridge, and other appliances for a longer time, without taking up much room. If you’re trying to maximize space in your RV (and let’s face it, everyone is), lithium batteries are a great choice.
5. Better for the Environment
Lithium batteries are also better for the environment because they don’t contain harmful chemicals like lead. This makes them a safer and cleaner choice for both your RV and the planet. While all batteries have an environmental impact, and lithium is no exception, the higher value of lithium makes it more practical for manufacturers to recapture and reuse the components of a lithium battery. Be sure to recycle old lithium batteries correctly for this reason.
How Long Do Lithium Batteries Last in an RV?
The life of a lithium battery depends on how you use it. On average, a lithium battery can last for about 10 years with regular use. Unlike traditional batteries, which lose their ability to store energy over time (called “capacity loss”), lithium batteries slowly lose capacity, meaning they may eventually store a little less power, but they still work well for years.
It is only as they reach the end of their life that their capacity drops off, and it usually does rapidly and significantly, making it much easier to identify when it’s time to replace them.
If you take care of your battery, it can keep providing power to your RV for a long time. But remember, if you’re camping for a long time without re-charging the battery, you might need more than one battery to last through your trip, so include that in any calculations below.
How Much Power Do I Need for My RV?
When choosing a lithium battery for your RV, it’s important to think about how much power you need. This depends on how many appliances and devices you use. If you only need power for lights and charging your phone, a smaller battery might be enough. But if you want to run your refrigerator, microwave, and other electronics, you’ll need a bigger battery or multiple batteries.
Here’s how to figure it out:
This part can get kind of complicated, but I’ll provide the information if you are someone who likes to know these details. But really the easiest way to figure it out is judging your current batteries. Do you have enough with them? Do you run down your batteries usually? If the answer is no, a similar amount of batteries would be the logical replacement, or more if you do run them down. Each typical car-size lead acid battery usually supplies around 100 amp-hours, but only 50 amp-hours are “useable’.* If you currently have two lead-acid batteries, double it, or you have around 100 useable amp-hours.
*Note: Because you can use “more” of a lithium battery before damaging it, lithium batteries provide nearly TWICE as many “USEABLE” amp-hours. I explain this in this article: Battery Capacity and Discharge Depth: Lithium vs. Lead-Acid Batteries in more detail. But it does mean that when you calculate how many amp-hours you’ve been using in your RV now, you can only count HALF of what is written on the battery itself.
If that’s enough information, skip to the next section. If you want to understand more, here’s the complicated way of figuring it out. (For a full article on just this subject, you can also read
Understanding Power Use in an RV – Calculating Your Usage.)
1. Make a list of the things you use in your RV that need power (like lights, fridge, fan, TV, etc.).
2. Find out how many “amp-hours” each device uses. (This info is usually on the device’s label or in the manual.)
3. Add up the amp-hours to see how much power you use in a day.
For example, if your lights use 2 amp-hours per day, your fridge uses 10 amp-hours per day, and you use your phone charger for 1 amp-hour, you would need a battery that can handle at least “13 amp-hours” of use in a day. (Keep in mind that you want a battery with a little extra capacity, just in case.)
If you can’t find the amp-hour information on the devices, here are some typical numbers for the most common RV devices. It should be noted, that only the largest and most sophisticated RV battery systems can run things like water-heaters, heaters, and air-conditioning because they draw so much power. Most often, you will want to run these off of propane or a generator for this reason. But most other appliances can be run off a reasonable lithium power bank. Take the numbers below and multiple by the number of hours you will be using them to calculate the “amp-hours”.
| Lights (per bulb) | 0.5 -1.5 Amps |
| RV Roof Fan | 3-5 Amps |
| Refrigerator | 5-8 Amps |
| Portable Ice Maker | 19.2 Amps |
| Blender | 5-6 Amps |
| Microwave Oven (Standard) | 7-13 Amps |
| Toaster | 8-10 Amps |
| Coffee Maker | 5-8 Amps |
| Electric Kettle | 6-12 Amps |
| Hair Dryer (High) | 7-13 Amps |
| Curling Iron | 0.5-0.7 Amps |
| Television HD, Digital | 1.5-4 Amps |
| Satellite Receiver/Game Console | 0.5-0.8 Amps |
| Computer (Laptop) | 2-3 Amps |
| Chargers (small electronics) | 0.5 to 1.5 Amps |
| Vacuum (Hand-Held) | 2-6 Amps |
How Much Do Lithium Batteries Cost?
You might be wondering about the price of lithium batteries. They’re more expensive than traditional lead-acid batteries, but they offer a lot of advantages that can save you money in the long run. While a lead-acid battery might cost around $150–$300, a lithium battery can cost up to double that. But the huge influx of new manufacturers recently have significantly dropped the price to prices approaching equal value to lead acid!
Plus, for only slightly more, a lithium battery can discharge more amps, allowing you to purchase fewer batteries for the same amount of battery capacity.
So although the upfront cost is higher, you’ll save money over time because the lithium battery lasts longer, requires less maintenance, and doesn’t need to be replaced as often. Plus, you’ll get better performance and efficiency, which means you can use your RV more often without worrying about power.
For example, I just picked up two OKMO lithium batteries from OKMO Tech. Their 100AH capacity batteries ran $199 at the time of writing this. This is about half as much as just a few years ago! I will explain how I was able to replace two lead-acid batteries with just one lithium battery a bit later, but basically at $199, it is essentially the same cost as purchasing lead-acid for a MUCH better battery system. If you want to know more about OKMO, go to OKMO Tech’s website.
Do I Need More Than One Lithium Battery for My RV?
If you like to boondock (camp without shore power) or spend long periods in your RV without charging your battery, you may need more than one lithium battery. Most RVs use two or more batteries to make sure there’s enough power for everything, especially if you’re running multiple appliances at once.
You can connect lithium batteries in parallel, which means you hook them up so they work together to provide more power. Just be sure you get the right size battery and enough batteries for your needs!
Final Thoughts
Lithium batteries are becoming a popular choice for RV owners because they’re long-lasting, efficient, lightweight, and environmentally friendly. They provide a powerful and reliable energy source for everything you need in your RV, from lights to appliances. Though they can be more expensive up front, their long lifespan and low maintenance make them a smart investment in the long run. If you’re looking to get the most out of your RV and enjoy more freedom, a lithium battery is a great choice!
Are you now ready to learn even more about lithium batteries? We have many more articles on the subject that provide even more details. Here are some other suggested topics to read:
Understanding Lithium Batteries for RVs: A Simple Guide
Ready for Lithium Batteries? Things to Consider First
How Safe are Lithium Batteries in an RV?
Understanding Power Use in an RV - Calculating Your Usage
Product Review for OKMO Tech Lithium RV Batteries
How Much Can You Discharge a Lead-Acid vs. Lithium RV Battery Before Damaging It?
