2026 Ranger Tugs going all lithium.
- Thread starter OverTime
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jobowker
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Lithium is a horrible description of batteries as it's ambiguous. There's a big difference between a Lithium Ion battery (like in your phone) and a Lithium Iron battery, aka LiFePO4. I'm leery of a scuba tank in the trunk of a car that's on fire, but not as worried about a scuba mask, even though both have the word scuba.
As humans we stink at assessing risk. Here is Massachusetts I had someone worried about getting eaten by a shark when he went out on my boat, even though not a single person in Massachusetts has been eaten by a great white in my lifetime. But he thought nothing of driving to the marina in his car, even though there's a higher risk of dying in a car crash.
I've only seen 2 boat fires in my life, and neither had anything to do with lithium batteries. Hope this helps.
As humans we stink at assessing risk. Here is Massachusetts I had someone worried about getting eaten by a shark when he went out on my boat, even though not a single person in Massachusetts has been eaten by a great white in my lifetime. But he thought nothing of driving to the marina in his car, even though there's a higher risk of dying in a car crash.
I've only seen 2 boat fires in my life, and neither had anything to do with lithium batteries. Hope this helps.
Submariner
Channel Surfing
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There are many different types of lithium. Lithium Magnesium, Lithium Cobalt, and others...
On boats, LiFePo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate, also abbreviated as LFP) is the most acceptable type. Primarily because of its high safety rating and stability. Why aren't all lithium batteries made of LiFePo4 then? Space. LiFePo4 is not the smallest, most condense form of a lithium battery. LiFePo4 batteries are physically larger per watt-hour stored than most other types. It's something like, 30% larger than other types of batteries (such as what our phones and tablets use). Fluid Motion only uses LiFePo4 (LFP) batteries in their lithium installations.
I am not aware of any LiFePo4 fires onboard a Fluid Motion boat (or any other boat, for that matter).
The ABYC E13 "Lithium ION Batteries" section documents standards to use for boat builders to maintain safe installation and operation. It's been published since July 22. (I have a copy of if anyone wants to read it. It's 13 pages long).
I converted Channel Surfing to LiFePo4, and love it. The conversion is challenging as I had to literally re-wire a lot of the boat. Better to purchase the boat new with LFP than convert one.
venajeff
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On my boat I replaced three AGM batteries with one LIFEPO4. It doubled the available capacity and the single LIFEPO4 battery was 6 pounds lighter than a one of the AGMs.
If they are installed correctly they are as safe as anything that contains energy, like any battery, propane, or gasoline.
If they are installed correctly they are as safe as anything that contains energy, like any battery, propane, or gasoline.
croakz
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Like other have said, it's not the batteries that are more unsafe, you just want to make sure it's installed correctly. Major things are proper fusing (ABYC updated their AIC requirements), mixing battery chemistries, and connection things like how to connect to chargers and alternators.
croakz
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The fires I've read about often end up as bad wiring and fusing. But that's to for lead acid too.
venajeff
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To the OP: you should feel very confident in getting a new boat with LIFEPO4 batteries. I don't think I would ever consider buying a new boat if it didn't come with it.
CaptMhack
Member
Like others have said LiFePO4 is very safe fire wise, you can stick a screw driver through and it will not explode. Don't try that with LiIon. (Don't try that with any battery but you can find videos of tests).
That said, I think Ranger Tugs will keep some batteries AGM, because for the internal combustion engine you need to have a battery that is always connected, with LiFePo4 and other LI batteries BMS can disconnect the battery leaving your engine pushing current while not connected to battery spiking it and destroying alot of stuff.. There are ways to work around that but it's cheaper to use AGM for engine..
That said, I think Ranger Tugs will keep some batteries AGM, because for the internal combustion engine you need to have a battery that is always connected, with LiFePo4 and other LI batteries BMS can disconnect the battery leaving your engine pushing current while not connected to battery spiking it and destroying alot of stuff.. There are ways to work around that but it's cheaper to use AGM for engine..