Lightweight performance battery

[kryten2001]

Hi Guys -

Anybody here have any experience in these lightweight solid-state batteries? Some weigh as little as 8kg, which is a vast improvement over the 20-25kgs of the standard battery.

Any tips for a Mk5 GTI? Worth the effort/do they ruin the look of your engine bay/how do they perform in hot-cold temperatures?

I'm not running any huge electrical appliances (amps etc) that require huge draw, so it only needs to start and run the car....

Seems an easy way to drop some unwanted weight.

Cheers.

[Maverick]

Polarbear replaced his with some lightweight battery about 1/3 the size and weight.

I wouldn't do it because there's no such thing as a free lunch if VW could get away with fitting a battery that is 1/3 the weight then they would in a second. Look at it this way, if they are willing to spend millions of dollars on shaving a few kg off a car wouldn't they jump at the chance to save 16kg by putting a smaller battery in? This would also enable them to move the R32 battery back into the engine compartment and save them a heap of money.

[kryten2001]

Polarbear replaced his with some lightweight battery about 1/3 the size and weight.

I wouldn't do it because there's no such thing as a free lunch if VW could get away with fitting a battery that is 1/3 the weight then they would in a second. Look at it this way, if they are willing to spend millions of dollars on shaving a few kg off a car wouldn't they jump at the chance to save 16kg by putting a smaller battery in? This would also enable them to move the R32 battery back into the engine compartment and save them a heap of money.

You're right, nothing comes for free.... The tradeoff will most certainly be reduced battery life, and suceptability to cold/hot conditions..

The reason they put the bigboy in, is because it can last through 5 harsh freezing winters and hot summers... If you're happy to remove that compromise, presumably you can get the benefit of reduced weight...

I'm most concerned on how it would look in the engine bay - assuming it can be done. The drycells are far far smaller than the monster brick that is the standard battery..

[Maverick]

You're right, nothing comes for free.... The tradeoff will most certainly be reduced battery life, and suceptability to cold/hot conditions..

Let's also not forget the huge amount of electrics and electronic gear in the car, the big battery would act as a large capacitor to filter out voltage spikes.

The factory battery has a reserve capacity in case the car takes longer to start or the battery was drained when the car was turned off, a smaller battery won't have this capacity and will leave you stranded.

I'm most concerned on how it would look in the engine bay - assuming it can be done. The drycells are far far smaller than the monster brick that is the standard battery..

Polarbear took out the battery casing and tied it down on it's side in that area, he should have some photos up if you check out his posts, they might be on golfmkv.

[tinto]

search for deka to find polar's thread, otherwise more info here:

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69871

http://www.momentummotorparts.com/store/batteries.asp

[kryten2001]

search for deka to find polar's thread, otherwise more info here:

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69871

http://www.momentummotorparts.com/store/batteries.asp

onya. .

[POLARBEAR666]

My battery is still going strong.

It has never been flat except when I have deliberately not driven the car for a few days.

It starts very very sharply as I am pulling 700cca vs 500-550 stock.

[Maverick]

My battery is still going strong.

It has never been flat except when I have deliberately not driven the car for a few days.

It starts very very sharply as I am pulling 700cca vs 500-550 stock.

CCA is only a measurement of how much power it can deliver in 30 seconds.

What is the Ah capacity? I'm assuming the small one is quite low but I'm still surprised that it's going flat after a few days?

[Transporter]

CCA is only a measurement of how much power it can deliver in 30 seconds.

What is the Ah capacity? I'm assuming the small one is quite low but I'm still surprised that it's going flat after a few days?

I'm not. It doesn't have the storage capacity since it is much smaller. Every new and fully charged lead acid battery is loosing 1% of the capacity per day. The alternator is charging always only to 80% capacity and when the battery is ageing it's capacity is getting lower and lower. You need aproximitaly 50% capacity to start the engine. So the battery after a couple of weeks driving would have only max 80% of the capacity The older battery would have less. I would be interested to know how long that small battery would last for? I would definitely be charging it with the battery charger regularly every second week, just to make sure that it will start after couple days of not driving.

[kryten2001]

My battery is still going strong.

It has never been flat except when I have deliberately not driven the car for a few days.

It starts very very sharply as I am pulling 700cca vs 500-550 stock.

Flat after 2 days?

Screw that, I've just changed my mind! I'll go on a diet instead.

[Greg Roles]

Just add more KW to offset battery weight.

[POLARBEAR666]

If you don't drive it for 2 days in winter or 3-4 in summer it goes flat.

I drive it every day so $250 to save 10kg permanently and lower the center of gravity is good value to me.

On that $25 per kg cost I would happily save 50 or 100kg from weight above the level of the drivetrain.

[Maverick]

If you don't drive it for 2 days in winter or 3-4 in summer it goes flat.

I drive it every day so $250 to save 10kg permanently and lower the center of gravity is good value to me.

But if you have more drain for example the head unit doesn't power off correctly or a light stays on then the car won't start? What's the Ah rating of the battery?

On that $25 per kg cost I would happily save 50 or 100kg from weight above the level of the drivetrain.

You'd be better off spending $2500 on getting the car flashed as this would more a difference then removing 50 or 100kg for the same price. There are those carbon fibre body panels available (they were mentioned on this site somewhere and you can buy them from ebay).

[sixfootchoc]

I've been going to the gym 5 days a week - I'm down 10kg already. The battery can wait. Cheapest weight saving mod ever.

[gregozedobe]

Lighter wheels and tyres make more of a difference than any non-rotating mass.