RVBusiness, September/October 2018
long they want to go without a charge you can get a rough estimate in size of storage vs using amp hours which isnt as easy to estimate run times Johnson expressed Volta is in Holland Mich a growing hub for lithium ion battery technology The companys system is currently in the Winnebago Travato and Advanced RV Escape both Class Bs and the Class A Emerald by Prevost converter Liberty Coach With complete power systems like ours customers can eliminate noise pollution and truly cut the cord from shorepower Johnson opined Consumers will be able to travel anywhere charge while driving and from solar and always have access to the energy they need RVing will be quiet comfortable and limitless More Power Less Maintenance Sean Nichols chief operations officer for supplier Dragonfly Energy Corp told RVB lithium ion batteries require far less maintenance than typical lead acid batteries Our systems require less interaction than a traditional lead acid bank Nichols said No maintenance is required no watering the batteries no cleaning the terminals You dont even have to remove them for the winter just charge them and let them sit Nichols said Dragonfly stands out because it assembles all of its batteries at its plant in Reno Nev The company uses components imported from across the globe We assemble in house which allows us to deploy many more quality checks than 200 RVBusiness S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 someone who is just importing a battery Nichols said Dragonfly offers its products under two brand names Dragonfly Energy is targeted at OEMs and installers and Battle Born is sold in the aftermarket All of its products are designed to fit into the space previously occupied by the coachs traditional lead acid battery a critical consideration for Class B coaches Nichols said the companys customers are craving the freedom that has been made possible by this new battery technology The market is growing rapidly people are better educated and want better solutions Nichols said One Xantrex OEM customer REV Recreation Group in Decatur Ind started adding lithium ion technology as an option in 2017 in all of its Class B coaches REV Marketing Manager Don Gephart said for 2018 it also made lithium ion battery technology the Xantrex Freedom e GEN lithium ion power system available in the builders Class A Monaco and all American Coach models as options adding that so far all American Eagles built this year have offered the lithium ion battery option And while lithium ion amounts to an Part of Voltas complete battery management system the high output alternator installed here under the hood of a Class A motorhome retrofitted by Holland Motor Homes allows the vehicle to charge the energy pack while driving or idling
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