Valence 12V Lithium (lead-acid drop-in replacement)

[DamonHD]

Hi,

I know Valence was mentioned recently in a why-hasn't-Big-Oil-killed-them-yet way, but has anyone here any actual experience of using their Li lead-acid-replacement batteries?

For example, the U27-12RT is meant to be 12.8V nominal 130AH, thus possibly >1.5kWh usable charge assuming a ~90% safe DoD (cf 50% for lead-acid), in a much smaller and lighter pack than lead-acid.  (I've just emailed Valence and I have found the datasheet too...)

One possible advantage is that the built-in controller may eliminate the need for a separate charge-controller for 12V-nominal solar panels, and indeed an LVD too.

Any comments?

Rgds

Damon

Moved to the proper section. A link would help get more comments, too.

[DamonHD]

Thanks for correct sectioning ADMIN...

Link here to Valence: http://www.valence.com/products/ucharge_overview.html

Several times the power per unit weight and volume, and clearly intended as a drop-in replacement for lead-acid.

Rgds

Damon

[PaulJ]

   Interesting. What do they cost?

   Internal cell balancing alone would remove a huge headache with sealed batteries...

   Paul.

[DamonHD]

I don't know the pricing yet for the UK, but based on a series of wild guesses I think that these might cost perhaps 3x per usable kWh as lead-acid.  Bbut given how much lighter and smaller they are for a given capacity, and given the built-in protection, that might be worthwhile.

I could expand my system from enough to run my off-grid office lighting to enough to run my server and DSL modem including 2 days' reserve in the same space in a tiny corner of our kitchen.  Quite a dramatic difference.

Rgds

Damon

[erthlng]

 I found a PDF document online from CalCars that mentioned a cost of $1200 for two Valence U-charge VU1 13.2V, 46.4 Ah Li-ion batteries.

See: http://www.calcars.org/PriusPlusComponents040826.pdf

Phil

[DamonHD]

Hi,

That wouldn't be way out of line with what I'd seen elsewhere for US pricing, but pricing for delivery to my doorstep in London is likely to be very different.

However, since Valence's email seems cranky, and their contact page does not have a working phone number for a UK office, I'm stuck for now...

Rgds

Damon

[DamonHD]

OK, just spoke to the UK part of Valence, and although it is twitchy about shipping one-offs because of all the engineering/customer support calls they want to avoid fielding ("Where do I measure the SG and put the distilled water?", etc, I imagine!), pricing is similar to the US and indeed better than list, circa £1000 for the U27-12RT which has ~1.5kWh usable.

Valence seems less twitchy about shipping one-offs of their new Epoch range due in September because it thinks that the Epoch will be easier for ordinary users to handle (fake holes for distilled water B^>) and a little bit cheaper too.

So, current pricing ~£700/kWh usable, cf £200+kWh for sealed lead-acid when I last checked.

A big premium, but at about 1/3rd the weight and 1/3rd the volume of a comparative SLA (eg Victron 12V 200Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery 238mm x 238mm x 522mm 65.0kg) and prices falling, that's looking very interesting.

I think I know what I might want as a birthday present to myself if I'm solvent!

Rgds

Damon

[bob golding]

hi damon,

 do you knopw how many charge discharge cycles they are rated for?

cheers

bob golding

[DamonHD]

~2000 to 100% DoD for the Epoch.

Rgds

Damon