Any Updates to LiFePo For 12V Auxiliary Battery?

Hello All:

First of all, an apology. After joining today and then exploring PriusChat, I noticed that the GEN1 models 2001-2003 aren't a main feature. Maybe not too many still out there? But my question I expect would also apply to Gen2 owners.

Although new to this forum, I am not new to my Prius. Original owner for 15 years this month! Only 82k on the ODO. I have replaced the main HV battery. So I am hoping for quite a few more years on the thing.

I did do a search for the topic in the title I gave to this post. But I only noticed the last discussion was back in July. And no real outcome to it. So maybe somebody now has experience?

That is: Has anyone bought/installed a LiFePo 12v battery to replace the auxiliary battery for any of the Prius generations? Here is a link to the one that has caught my attention.

The amp hour rating and the CCA ratings are certainly enough for secondary battery duty. Slightly higher capacity than the original which came with my Prius and also equals the two 35ah AGM that have both eventually gone dead. The LiFePo battery has monitoring circuits to keep it safe. And it will cut off if the voltage falls below a threshold. The size is diminutive compared to a Pb battery.

I did call Battery Tender. The "technical" guy I think wouldn't deviate from the official line that their batteries are designed only to replace normal batteries for small recreational craft such as jet skis, motorcycles, atf's, lawn tractors etc.

At only $50 or so more than the yellow top Optima which seems to be a favorite now for the 12V replacement, I am attracted to the idea!

A concern that I might have is whether my Prius' charge voltage is enough. I have read, and also measured, that Gen1's put out 13.6-13.7 volts to charge rather than the 14.4v of most vehicles . (Might be a reason why the auxiliary battery life has been disappointing for early generation Prius owners.) It's not on Battery Tender's spec sheet, but I have noticed on other battery manufacturers sites that +/-14.v is the spec. I am wondering if 13.7v is enough.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

rardi

 

Thanks for the comments so far. Although the LiFePo concept is attention grabbing, $225 or so is the cost for what still amounts to an experiment. The on-board computer system on my car is finicky re the 12v battery's condition. If it senses the battery isn't up to snuff, it will even prevent the car from running for long after a successful jump start.

Even if a LiFePo battery is functioning per its design, it is possible the Prius's on board monitoring algorithym might baulk at something it detects is different from the lead-acid profile.

I still need to wait until someone has actually tried and found success with LiFePo. If it doesn't work on my Prius, I don't have another use for the battery.

 

Bisco: The BatteryTender LiFePo is about half the dimensional size of the original battery. So yes will fit. But I would need to brace it differently. Re the posts, I have already modified my car from the OEM fittings for my prior two replacement batteries which were different from the original. This mod looks like it would work also for the LiFePo.