Compare two battery types
Enter the energy you need and how much you use your camper, choose two types and compare size, weight, lifespan and cost per year.
Your usage
Description
The energy you use between charges, in amp-hours (Ah), and the days per year you use your camper. It tells you what size you need of each type and how many cycles you will put on it per year.
Price and lifespan
Description
Choose the two types you want to compare. Price is optional: press Calculate to see the size you need of each, look it up in a shop and enter what it costs here. Cycles and years are filled in with typical values for each type; replace them with the ones on your battery's data sheet.
Comparison
Description
The size you should buy of each type for the same usable energy, its weight, the years it lasts with your usage and, if you entered prices, what it costs per year.
You have changed some data. Press Calculate to update the result.
| Battery A | Battery B |
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To understand it better
Worked example
To use 80 Ah between charges you need a 100 Ah lithium battery, which weighs about 11 kg, or a 200 Ah AGM, which weighs about 60 kg.
Common mistakes
- Comparing by purchase price. What counts is the cost per year of use.
- Comparing batteries with the same Ah. A 100 Ah lithium battery gives the same usable energy as a 160 Ah AGM.
- Forgetting the weight: in a van, every kilo counts towards the maximum permitted mass.
Questions about this tool
Can I swap an AGM for a lithium battery without changing anything else?
Not always. The solar controller and the chargers must have a lithium charging profile. Check before swapping.
How many years does a lithium battery last?
LiFePO4 batteries usually advertise 3000 to 6000 cycles. With normal camper use, age typically limits them before the cycles do.
Is lithium worth it if I rarely use my camper?
With few days of use per year, an AGM can work out cheaper per year. The comparison tool calculates it with your usage and your prices.