THE FIVE QUESTIONS EVERY 4WD AND CARAVAN OWNER ASKS BEFORE SWITCHING TO LITHIUM
We've spoken to thousands of Australian 4WD owners, caravanners and off-grid enthusiasts over the years. The same questions come up every time someone is considering making the switch to lithium. Here are the five most common - answered honestly.
1. "Is lithium actually safe?"
Yes - and LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry is the safest lithium chemistry available. Unlike the lithium cobalt oxide chemistry used in laptop and phone batteries, LiFePO4 is thermally and chemically stable. It doesn't produce the kind of runaway thermal reaction that causes fires. Custom Lithium batteries are always being further developed & improved to add further layers of protection against the scenarios that can cause issues in lesser batteries.
2. "Can I install it myself?"
Custom Lithium recommend to have a qualified Auto Electrician install the products.
While Custom Lithium batteries are designed as drop-in designs for standard battery positions & specific areas in 4WD vehicles and caravans, it's important to ensure the best practices are followed. If you're replacing an existing battery in the same location with the same terminal layout, it's often a straightforward swap. More complex dual battery setups or solar integrations benefit from a professional install - and our team is always available to advise on your specific setup before you start.
We can also recommend you to one of our trusted and authorised installation partners across Australia.
3. "Will it work with my existing setup?"
It depends on what's in your setup. The most important check is your charger - as covered in our charging guide, you need a charger with a LiFePO4 profile to charge your battery correctly. Your existing solar panels, inverter and loads will almost certainly work perfectly with a lithium battery. If you're unsure, contact us with the details of your setup and we'll tell you exactly what you need. Even send through a few photos and we can help you out!
4. "What happens in extreme cold?"
LiFePO4 batteries do have reduced performance in very cold temperatures - below zero the chemistry slows down, which affects both discharge performance and charging. Our batteries have a low temperature cut off to ensure they aren't charged below this level. Additionally, a lot of higher quality chargers now also have cut offs to stop charging at low temperatures.
For the vast majority of Australian applications this is rarely an issue. If you're heading to alpine environments in winter, it's worth discussing your specific use case with us. For standard Australian touring conditions, temperature is not a concern. We are also able to custom build your batteries to includes internal heating elements to help through these condition with peace of mind.
5. "Is the price worth it?"
We've covered the maths above, but here's the short version: a Custom Lithium battery costs more upfront than an AGM. Over its lifetime - measured in cycles, years and total amp-hours delivered - it costs significantly less. For anyone who uses their setup regularly, the switch to lithium pays for itself. The question isn't really whether it's worth it. The question is how long you want to wait before making the switch.