Lithium batteries for Electric APUs

I've been saying this for years that the battery APU units need to be Lithium with a battery box designed to hold them and be insulated.

The weight advantage of lifepo4 VS AGM is huge.
The BCMs used on most of these provide proper protection and battery health.
Finally Carrier has woke up and offered a lithium battery APU that uses Lifepo4 batteries

 

That carrier lithium apu is $17000!!!
No thanks. You can build your own lithium system for less than half that.

 

I'll add that there is a newer lead acid battery technology known as lead - carbon which is seemingly making a nearly indestructible battery. These might be usable without modifications to the charging system too.

 

How about a quarter of the price.

 

Look what I came across today ….

 

Why pay double the price when you can get the same battery on Amazon ... from the same chinese source. Chins is on of the brands. They even have models with low temp heating. Bluetooth battery monitoring, etc

Best made on the market is probably SOK. No cool features other than low temp shutoff.

 

For an awesome battery chemistry which would work well in the trucking world ... check out Lithium Titanate LTO

 

Using lithium battery technology for Electric APUs could indeed be a game-changer. Lithium batteries, known for their durability and high energy density, could solve the frequent replacement issue you face with AGMs. They can handle deep discharges without significant capacity loss, which is crucial for applications like APUs that require reliable performance over time.
Integrating these batteries into APUs could also offer benefits like reduced weight and space savings, especially if sized similarly to group 31 batteries.
Considering alternatives like a 12v li ion battery pack could be a worthwhile next step. They're known for their efficiency and longevity, making them a promising choice for enhancing APU setups.

 

They do not work in cold weather, the BMS will shut the battery down if the temp of the battery is below its operating temp.