Battery time for the 2001 DMax

[More Power]

I watched a video a while back about Electric Vehicle batteries. It said that the EV lithium batteries live longest when run from ~90% down to about 50%. Deep draw and 100% charges reduce life - they said. I don't know... I try to do that with my iPhone.

I do like the fact that Lithium can be stored long term without losing charge. As JK said, disconnecting them from the vehicle is wise due to a parasitic draw of computers and such. Sitting discharged kills typical auto batteries very quickly...

Speaking of long-term storage, I've found that AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries keep their charge over winter as well as Lithium. The ATV/motorcycle industry went to AGM batteries quite a while ago. It's what I buy when replacing a battery in my motorcycle. These are maintenance-free once past the initial fill. What is an AGM battery? Go Here.

[Kennedy]

I watched a video a while back about Electric Vehicle batteries. It said that the EV lithium batteries live longest when run from ~90% down to about 50%. Deep draw and 100% charges reduce life - they said.

Definitely true but 20% and even a touch lower is fine. That's where a programmable BMS comes in. I can set the top (and bottom) voltages that the battery will accept plus with the off grid solar charge controller I can set the top charge voltage to simply "not go there"

[More Power]

Definitely true but 20% and even a touch lower is fine. That's where a programmable BMS comes in. I can set the top (and bottom) voltages that the battery will accept plus with the off grid solar charge controller I can set the top charge voltage to simply "not go there"

Programmable chargers sound nice. Overcharging kills batteries of all types. I developed an automatic field charger for Radio Control systems back in the early 1980's. It was also part of a story I wrote for the leading RC magazine at that time. It was pretty simple to do. You'd think that Apple, battery tool manufacturers and every other manufacturer would just do automatic chargers as standard practice.