New Marketing trend with LFP batteries

[tiltrider1]

Will Prowes has stumbled across a new marketing trend with LFP batteries. I am not even sure if he knows just what he has discovered.

When a battery claimed 100 Ah it usually tested out around 106 when new. Lately, the cheap batteries are testing out around 100. It is very possible that in an effort to save money manufacturers are using 95 Ah cells that test out as 100.1 Ah when new. Calling this a 100 Ah battery is technically not a lie, it is a change in marketing standards.

I always wondered how Eco-worthy went from a 260 Ah battery to a 280 Ah battery with no change in size or price. just a change in sticker on the case would explain a lot. Without a lab to test I can’t be sure.

In reality if you paid for 100 Ah and got a 100 Ah you really can’t complain that the guy before you paid more for his 100 Ah and got 106 Ah.

This is just something to be aware of. We will need to watch for continual marketing creep.

 

[BB-marine]

I watched a Will Prowes Youtube video reviewing a WattCycle 12V 300AH LiFePO4 battery. During the testing he questioned the AH capacity. At first he thought the cells needed to be balanced. After further testing he determined that the battery did test at rated AH but should really be considered a 280AH battery. When I did a price search for the 300 AH WattCycle I found the battery to be rated now at 280 AH. The description:

• From Jan 10th 2025, the nominal capacity specification of 12V 300Ah MINI is 280Ah.
• The stickers of 12V 300Ah MINI next batch in transit are still 12V 300Ah MINI.
• The stickers of batteries after this batch will be fully replaced.

Having watch dog battery reviews hopefully will help keep the standards as they were. This battery technology is bringing on more and more battery manufactures or labels. There are still the major brands holding their prices high. Then there are the new labels. The consumer needs to do their homework. Price and safety are key components for me when shopping.
Brian

 

[folivier]

I'd rather get what I pay for. As an interesting point of reference about 14 years ago I built a 1000 amphour battery using 4 Winston cells. These were definitely underrated. I sold them to a friend who is still getting over 1000 amphours.

 

[Don L]

On the flip side, did people really know and get what they paid for in acid battery capacity? I wnder what the claimed tolerance is for battery capacity.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

I think that's the real takeaway. 95, 100, 106, whatever. Nobody is regulating that and it's all marketing. There are so many variables and once it's installed in your application, it becomes extremely difficult to deliver enough evidence to say the few amp hours plus or minus aren't due to some on board variable.

 

[mvweebles]

I too saw the Will Prowse review of the Ecoworthy battery and agree with @tildrider1 evaluation. I'd also note that Process tested four of the same battery and he felt the capacities varies significantly between the four, much more so than other brands.

His bottom line was these are really cheap batteries so it's still a good value. But he has reservations - my thought is the marketing claims and vagaries in quality say something about the company even through the battery technically specs within claimed range.

Peter

 

[Comodave]

Personally if I bought an advertised 100 amp hour battery and I actually got one that delivered 95 I wouldn’t be that concerned about the missing 5 amp hours. That could easily be manufacturing tolerances. I probably wouldn’t even notice.

 

[Delta Riverat]

Yeah, in real life use you wouldn't notice unless you were in trouble.

But that said, these things all used to test "over" like 100 did 105. So 95 "5 under" is now 10% less and that is significant.

 

[SteveK]

A while back there was talk about companies selecting the cells. Maybe success allows them to not be as selective. Thought there was a reason for these getting cheaper.

 

[Pprior]

My concern is a company that will cut corners will in other areas. I am willing to pay a premium for safety and reliability