If you are looking for the best lithium boat battery, you have come to the right place.
Lead-acid batteries have long been the only option for sailors to power onboard electronics, small appliances, and electric trolling motors.
However, they are heavy, don’t last long, and have limited storage capacity. Thanks to recent developments, lithium batteries like the LiFePO4 are now perfectly fit for marine applications.
Today, there are dozens of brands available. So, for your convenience we’ve made a list of the best lithium boat batteries on the market:
- Battleborn
- Renogy
- Lossigy
- AmpereTime
- Expert Power
- Banshee
- Ionic
- Zooms
- Talent Cell
- Mighty Max
In this article, a lithium boat battery that meets the following requirements have been selected:
- Robust
- Built to work in harsh marine environment
- Highly durable
- Powerful
- Compact
You’ll find out what makes a good boat battery, followed by a selection of the 10 best lithium boat batteries out there.
Let’s begin with our top editor’s choices.
Best Lithium Boat Batteries – Editor’s Choice
How To Choose A Lithium Boat Battery?
First of all, to choose the correct lithium battery for your boat we have to take into account the specificity of the marine environment and boat use:
- High salt moisture content in the air
- Temperature variations
- Boat vibrations and movement
- Long period of storage followed by intense use
Now, let’s check what features make a good battery for boat use.
There are 2 major components in a lithium battery:
- The lithium battery cell
- The BMS (battery management system) protection and control board
In this Top 10 list, you will find lithium batteries for boats that combine high-quality BMS and battery cells.
Ultimately, to choose the best lithium boat battery you should consider the following parameters:
- Resistance to corrosion
- Maintenance-free
- High power output and storage capacity
- Durability
- Reliability
- Long storage life
- Tolerance to intermittent and fast charging
Let us now have a look at our selection of the 10 best lithium boat batteries.
What Are The 10 Best Lithium Boat Batteries?
BattleBorn 12V, 100Ah
Main features
First of all, this lithium battery from BattleBorn is water-resistant and sealed, making it suitable for humid environments.
In addition, the BMS is of the highest quality, enabling power output of 1.2kW continuous and 2.4kW surge. Its life duration is excellent with up to 5’000 cycles (10 to 15 years).
On top of that, the battery will retain its charging state for months if not used (2 to 3% self-discharge rate).
Finally, it comes with the longest warranty on the market (10 years).
Final thoughts
This is the best pick for a lithium boat battery. It combines all the qualities needed for electricity storage in a harsh marine environment. It will keep your boat’s electronics and appliances powered for years, maintenance-free.
Renogy, 12V, 100Ah
Main features
This lithium boat battery from Renogy features a high-quality BMS, that will efficiently control and protect the battery.
It enables a strong discharge current to power loads up to 1.2kW. The battery is ready for quick charging (600W) and benefits from IP54 protection (splashproof), making it the perfect choice for marine applications.
In addition, it is extremely durable with 4,000 cycles or 10 years of use.
Finally, it has a built-in RJ45 port to monitor the battery parameters. The port also allows you to connect several batteries in parallel for larger systems.
Final thoughts
A great lithium boat battery from Renogy that combines robustness, high storage capacity, and durability. It has extra monitoring features thanks to its smart BMS technology. Perfect for high-end energy storage systems.
LOSSIGY 12V, 100Ah
Main features
Lossigy’s lithium boat battery offers excellent durability of up to 5,000 cycles (10 years). It weighs only 23lbs for a capacity of 1.2kWh – a great energy density.
In addition, it can deliver 600W of power continuously, which is enough to power small appliances and electronics in a medium-size boat. It is robust enough to operate at low and high temperatures (-4°F to 140°F) and it is water-resistant (IP68).
Finally, you can easily upgrade your system by connecting up to 4 batteries in series or 10 in parallel.
Final Thoughts
This lithium battery is well fitted for marine applications thanks to its IP68 certification (waterproof). On top of that, it comes with a 5-year warranty at a competitive price.
AmpereTime, 12V, 300Ah
Main features
This lithium battery has been chosen for its high storage capacity of 3.6kWh and strong power output of 2.4kW.
It will satisfy all your needs on a boat and you will likely never run out of electricity.
On top of that, it is IP65 certified (waterproof) and resistant to temperature variations (-4°F to 130°F), making it a perfect choice for the marine environment. It will work for 10 years with more than 4,000 cycles.
Final Thoughts
Perfect choice for demanding marine applications on larger boats. This lithium boat battery will surprise you with its power and capacity. On top of all that, it comes at a very friendly price considering the amount of power it can store.
ExpertPower, 12V, 200Ah
Main features
Expert Power is a US-based company, their last product is a good combination of high storage capacity (2.4kWh) and power (1.8kW) for demanding applications.
It is also robust, with up to 2500 cycles if fully discharged (10-years life duration).
Thanks to a low self-discharge rate it can be stored for a year and still maintain 75% of its initial capacity. This is perfect if you only use your boat periodically.
Final Thoughts
This lithium battery is packed with power and weighs only 48lbs. It is therefore a great choice to power an electric trolling motor for a day out.
Banshee, 12V, 100Ah
Main features
This Banshee 12V lithium battery was designed specifically for marine applications.
The dual post terminals are marine grade, making it a robust product. It features a convenient LED voltmeter indicator to monitor your battery state of charge.
In addition, it comes with a handle and an emergency start button. Regarding its performance, it combines high capacity (1.2kWh) and power output (1.2kW). On top of that, it comes with a 3-year warranty.
Final Thoughts
One of the most robust lithium boat batteries. Weighing only 24.2lbs it is perfect for a trolling motor or to power electronics and appliances in a small boat.
Ionic, 12V, 125Ah
Main features
Ionic lithium battery is a great choice for a boat or a trolling motor.
It combines high capacity (1.5 kWh) and power output (1.2kW), managed by a high-quality BMS with a unique Bluetooth monitoring feature.
Its durability is quite impressive, reaching up to 5,000 cycles or 10 years.
On top of that, it comes with a 5-year warranty, one of the longest on the market.
Final Thoughts
This lithium boat battery from Ionic is well-liked because it combines many qualities (capacity, power, smart BMS, durability) at a friendly price with a 5-year warranty.
Zooms, 12v, 100Ah
Main features: This lithium boat battery from Zooms offers one of the best performance vs price ratios.
It stores up to 1.2kWh and delivers 1.2kW of power for demanding loads. On top of that, you can extend your system through parallel and series connections.
The durability is excellent with more than 4,000 cycles at 100% DOD.
Additionally, it comes with a 5-year warranty and an excellent built-in BMS to protect and control your battery cells.
Final Thoughts
Do not hesitate to buy this lithium boat battery. We love its durability and long-term warranty, all of that at a relatively low price.
TalentCell, 12V, 200Ah
Main features
This battery by TalentCell will cover most of your needs on a boat thanks to a huge storage capacity of 2.4kWh and a continuous power output of 1kW.
The battery will work well between 32°F and 140°F. One of the most important features, unlike lead-acid batteries, its capacity is not affected by the discharge rate.
In addition, it can be fully charged in only 2 hours through powerful solar panels. On top of that, the battery durability is excellent, you can reach 3’500 cycles at 80% DOD (depth of discharge).
Final Thoughts
If you are on a budget but still in need of a high capacity and powerful lithium battery for your boat, then this battery is your best choice.
Mighty Max, 12V, 200Ah
Main features
MightyMax is a battery specialist and their LifePo4 batteries are made of good quality materials that will satisfy intense use in a marine environment.
Indeed, with 2.4kWh of capacity and a power output of 600W your boat electronics and the small appliance will be powered for days.
It works well when connected to a solar charge controller, and could reach full charge in 4 hours if your solar panels are powerful enough.
Ultimately, it is durable (2’500 cycles) and comes with a 2-year warranty.
Final Thoughts
Although slightly limited by its power output, this battery is a great choice for large energy storage systems on a boat (up to 4 batteries in parallel).
How Long Do Lithium Boat Batteries Last?
On average, lithium boat batteries last between 10 – 15 years, depending on how frequently you discharge them.
From our research, we found that the majority of brands produce batteries that are able to be discharged between 2500 and 5000 times. This means you can drain your battery thousands of times.
We recommend choosing a marine battery with a higher depth of discharge/life cycle rate, as this will allow them to last much longer whilst you are out at sea. Out of all the lithium boat batteries we tested, the 100Ah battery from BattleBorn lasts the longest.
Are Lithium Batteries Safe To Use On Boats?
In a report made by the European Union, scientists declared that a lithium-ion battery fire onboard a ship can be more deadly than a sinking ship.
This is mainly due to a lithium-ion battery fire being very hard to extinguish compared to traditional seafaring fires. Additionally, most ships do not have the appropriate fire suppressor systems in place.
With all this being said, the latest lithium boat batteries are being built to withstand the turbulence of the ocean more and more efficiently, as well as being built in a water-resistant casing. Additionally, their internal BMS systems are becoming highly advanced.
Our recommendation is to house your lithium boat battery in a fire-resistant casing such as the ones over at LithiumSafe.
Is a Lithium Boat Battery Worth The Cost?
Let’s put it this way, traditional sealed lead acid batteries last between 3 to 5 years and can only be discharged up to 50%. This means you will need to buy double the amount of lead-acid batteries to make up for the DOP. This increases the overall weight and obviously affects the total price.
So as an example, let’s say you want 100Ah of capacity onboard your boat.
- If you get a lead-acid battery, you will need to buy two 100Ah batteries. This will cost you about $350. However, you will need to replace these batteries around every 3 years. Meaning within 10 years you will have spent $1050.
- If you go the lithium route, you will only need one 100Ah battery and it will last you between 10 to 15 years. The total cost for this one battery would be between $600 and $800.
Final Thoughts
According to the IMO (International Maritime Organization), the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping represented 2.2% of the global human-made emissions in 2012. This number is expected to rise from 50 – 250% by 2050 if no action is taken.
Thankfully, the industry is making the slow switch to Li-Ion technology, which helps contribute to greener shipping.
As for commercial boatmen, if you are looking for a quality lithium boat battery to power your onboard appliances and electronics or for your electric trolling motor, you need a light, durable, powerful, maintenance-free, and reliable battery.
This is exactly what you could expect from the lithium batteries we have selected in our Top 10 list.
Over the last 3 years, the price of lithium batteries went down and their durability increased. As such, it is now the perfect time to replace your old lead-acid batteries in your boat with lithium ones.
