12V Li batteries compared

[Richard230]

Here is a link to an interesting Bike World article comparing a 12V Shorai LiFePo4 battery, a Ballistic Li-ion battery, with a typical cheap BikeMaster SLA battery:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-battery/li-ion-motorcycle-battery/shorai-vs-ballistic-li-ion-motorcycle-battery.htm

[protomech]

Interesting. The article recommends a BatteryTender for maintaining a lithium iron phosphate battery .. I think that's the first I've seen that recommendation. Possibly the battery has an onboard charger itself? I'd be hesitant.

[Richard230]

Since the batteries are 12 volt, according to Shorai, any small 12 volt charger should work as long as it doesn't have a sulfate removal voltage spike program, which apparently some battery tenders have.  However the "Battery Tender" does not have this type of voltage spike feature and that is why Shorai says that it can be used to charge their LiFePo4 batteries.