February 18 is National Battery Day, and it is a great opportunity to talk about something that impacts nearly every boat on the water: battery technology and ABYC standards.
The American Boat and Yacht Council has two primary standards that address batteries:
• E-10, Storage Batteries
• E-13, Lithium Ion Batteries
With lithium conversions becoming more common, there are still a lot of misunderstandings floating around. Let’s clear up three of the biggest ones.
Myth 1: E-13 is for lithium ion batteries and E-10 is only for lead acid batteries.
Fact: E-10 is not just for lead acid batteries.
E-10 contains requirements that apply to all battery types, including lithium ion. E-13 has additional lithium ion specific requirements. It does not replace E-10. It works alongside it.
If you are installing lithium, you need both standards.
Myth 2: E-13 covers lithium ion batteries, but not lithium iron phosphate LFP.
Fact: Lithium iron phosphate is lithium ion chemistry.
E-13 applies to all lithium ion chemistries, including LFP.
There is a common misconception that LFP is somehow separate from lithium ion. It is not. It is simply one of lithium ion chemistries with specific performance and characteristics.
If it is lithium ion, it falls under E-13.
Myth 3: “Drop in replacement” lithium ion batteries seamlessly replace lead acid batteries without system changes.
Fact: There is no such thing as a true drop in replacement.
Replacing lead acid with lithium ion requires evaluating the entire system, including:
• Charging sources and charging profiles
• Alternator type and protection
• AIC rating of overcurrent protection devices
• The consequences of a BMS disconnect, also known as load dump
• System voltage
“Drop in replacement” is a marketing term. It can be very misleading. Lithium batteries often behave differently than lead acid batteries. The rest of the system must be compatible with lithium ion battery. If you are planning a lithium ion upgrade, make sure you are looking at the whole system, not just the battery alone.
On National Battery Day, it is worth recognizing that ABYC standards are there to help innovation move forward safely, so new technology makes boating better and safer for everyone.
Questions? Contact [email protected] for more information.