Who Makes the Best Lithium Batteries?

DL Ambassador Valerie, boondocking in Baja, Mexico with the Dakota Lithium Overland Truck

Here at Dakota Lithium we believe quality is measured by lifespan. How long a battery lasts. The best lithium battery for you is one that gives you the power, performance and reliability to live your best life and pursue your passions to the fullest, be it cruising the open road in your RV, fishing for bass, or crossing oceans in your sailboat. Different applications require different batteries, that’s why here at Dakota Lithium we make a wide range of battery sizes so your can build the best battery system for your needs. 

Here’s 8 reason’s why the best batteries are Dakota Lithium

1. Dakota Lithium LiFePO4 batteries will provide double the usable power and run time of lead acid. More power and run time means more time on the water or on the road without having to plug in at night. Allows for boondocking or camping off grid in your RV, fishing from sun up to sun down in your boat, or powering whatever is important to you for longer.
2. Dakota Lithium batteries last 5X longer than AGM or lead acid batteries. Providing piece of mind and greater lifetime value. All backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty.
3. Dakota Lithium weighs 60% less than deep cycle lead acid batteries. Less weight means more maneuverability and speed and less wear and tear on your rig. And the batteries are light enough that you can easily install and service them yourself.
4. Dakota’s lithium iron phosphate technology works down to negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 Celsius) meaning you can travel in all seasons.
5. The self discharge rate of a Dakota Lithium battery (i.e. how much power is lost each month the battery is not being used), is 1/4 that of a lead acid battery. That means if you take a break between adventures your batteries will still have plenty of power the next time you hit the road or get on the water.
6. Dakota Lithium iron phosphate is optimized for solar energy with 50% more efficiency than a lead acid battery and 100% of the energy your solar panels have collected is accessible and usable.
7. You need less batteries when you use a Dakota Lithium. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) has a flat voltage curve. That means that the voltage does not drop as you use the battery. You get all the juice down to the last drop. Historically if you power your house electronics with a deep cycle lead acid battery you would only be able to use half of the capacity of the battery before the voltage is too low to run anything. That’s why your lights dim when your lead batteries are low. With Dakota Lithium you can use all of the power of the battery, meaning that a 100 Ah battery from Dakota Lithium is equal to 200 Ah in lead acid batteries.
8. Dakota Lithium has an 11 year warranty. That means you can install your batteries once, instead of replacing heavy lead acid batteries every few years. Giving you peace of mind and the confidence to go further, and play harder.

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Best Lithium Battery Manufacturer

The best US lithium battery manufacturer is Dakota Lithium. Dakota Lithium is an ISO 9001:2015 certified lithium battery engineering company, which means Dakota Lithium quality control practices meet the highest international and US quality standards. Dakota Lithium has been engineering, designing, and manufacturing lithium batteries since 2008 and is the leading authority on ultra-long lifespan lithium batteries.

Dakota Lithium batteries are Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) compliant for use in RVs, camper vans, and other homes on wheels. The most popular batteries for use in RVs, Trailers, Adventure Van builds, or overland trucks are the 12V 100Ah, 12V 135Ah and 12V 280Ah batteries since they have the greatest energy density by volume and are drop in replacements for standard RV house batteries. This off grid power system also uses RVIA compliant batteries to build a solar powered electrical system for most RVs, vans, or campers. Learn more about RV batteries and shop RV batteries here.

Dakota Lithium batteries are compliant with the new American Boating and Yachting Council (ABYC) standards for lithium batteries. Learn what ABYC standards for lithium batteries mean for boat owners from Dakota Lithium founder Ryan Ellison here. This means insurance companies have clear guidelines for what is a safe and reliable lithium battery and are more likely to insure your boat if lithium batteries are on board. This gives more boat owners the option to upgrade to the performance and reliability of Dakota Lithium batteries. In addition, the Dakota Lithium Plus 12V 135Ah battery meets the standards set by Mercury Motors for lithium starter batteries for outboard and marine motors, allowing boat owners to run full lithium systems with no need to have both lead acid and lithium batteries on the same boat. Learn more about marine batteries here.

Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Dakota Lithium batteries are build for extreme performance in extreme conditions. This relentless focus on reliability and lifespan has inspired athletes across the globe to choose Dakota Lithium for their power needs. Dakota Lithium is the official battery of Bassmaster and is the choice of tournament fishing champions. New batteries are beta tested by professional athletes in tournament conditions, their feedback is collected by our ISO 9001 certified engineering team and used to improve the next generation of Dakota Lithium batteries. Two time Bassmaster champion Hank Cherry used Dakota Lithium batteries for his trolling motor and onboard electronics. Bassmaster champion Brock Mosely uses Dakota Lithium batteries for his bass boat, including the trolling motor and sonar. Duane Hjelm, national Walleye fishing champion, uses Dakota Lithium for his tournament boat, trolling motor and onboard electronics.

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The Best Lithium Battery for Trolling Motors

Dakota Lithium is the leading manufacturer of high performance batteries for trolling motors. Used by top tournament anglers, Dakota Lithium batteries are optimized for electric trolling motors, providing exceptional run time and reliability in the roughest of conditions.

When choosing a lithium battery for your trolling motor look for a battery that has an Amp Hour (Ah) rating that is higher than the max amp draw of your trolling motor (max amp draw is the amps used at the highest power setting and with all features like spot lock turned on). A simple rule of thumb is: if you run your trolling motor mostly on a low setting, or for no more then half the day choose a battery that is slightly above the amp draw. For example, if you have a 12V 55 lb thrust motor that pulls 55 amps then a DL+ 12V 60Ah battery would be a good choice. If you are often out for a 12 hour day and have your trolling motor running for most of the time you would benifit most from a 12V 100Ah battery. If you run your motor at highest power level often, or fish rivers in heavy current, or your boat is larger and/or you often fish off shore, then you want twice as much Amp Hours (Ah) as your max amp draw. So a 12V 100Ah battery would be a good choice, or a DL+ 12V 135Ah battery.

Here’s a guide of what battery you need for your size trolling motor

Motor Thrust / Max Amp Draw (A) @ Voltage (V) / Recommended Battery

• 20 lbs / 20A @ 12V / DL 54 or DL+ 60 or Powerbox+ 60*
• 25 lbs / 25A @ 12V / DL 54 or DL+ 60 or Powerbox+ 60*
• 30 lb / 30A @ 12V / DL 54 or DL+ 60 or DL 100 or Powerbox+ 60*
• 45 lb / 42A @ 12V / DL 54 or DL+ 60 or DL 100 or Powerbox+ 60*
• 55 lb / 50A @ 12V / DL 54 or DL+ 60 or DL 100 or DL+ 135 or Powerbox+ 60* or Powerbox+ 135*
• 70 lb / 42A @ 24V / 24V Single or DL 54 x 2 or DL+ 60 x 2 or  DL 100 x 2 or DL+ 135 x 2
• 80 lb / 56A @ 24V / DL+ 60 x 2 or DL 100 x 2 or DL 200 x 2 or DL+ 135 x 2
• 101 lb / 46A @ 36V / 36V Single or DL+ 60 x 3  DL 100 x 3 or DL+ 135 x 3 or DL 200 x 3
• 112 lb / 52A @ 36V / 36V Single or DL+ 60 x 3 or DL 100 x 3 or DL+ 135 x 3 DL 200 x 3
• >112 lb / Up to 100A @ 36V / DL+ 60 x 3 or DL 100 x 3 or DL+ 135 x 3 or DL 200 x 3

Download & print trolling motor battery selection guide (.pdf)

* For fishing kayaks, canoes, or any boat with a capsize risk we recommend the Powerbox+ 60 or building a waterproof / submersible battery box.

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Brock Mosely, Bassmaster Champion, practicing before the lake OkeeChobee Elite tournament.

Dakota Lithium is the Battery of Campions

• Brock Mosely, Bassmaster Champion, 1st place Sabine River, uses 3 x DL+ 12V 135Ah batteries for his trolling motor and 1x DL+ 12V 135Ah battery for his livescope, sonar, graphs, fish finder, and other onboard electronics.
• Tyler Rivet, Bassmaster Champion, 1st place Lake Okeechobee, uses 3 x DL+ 12V 135Ah batteries for his trolling motor and 1x DL+ 12V 135Ah battery for his livescope, sonar, graphs, fish finder, and other onboard electronics.
• Hank Cherry, Bassmaster Grand Champion 2 years in a row, uses 3 x DL+ 12V 135Ah batteries for his trolling motor and 1x DL+ 12V 135Ah battery for his livescope, sonar, graphs, fish finder, and other onboard electronics.
• Duane Hjelm, National Walleye Tour Champion, uses 3 x DL+ 12V 135Ah batteries for his trolling motor and 1x DL+ 12V 135Ah battery for his livescope, sonar, graphs, fish finder, and other onboard electronics.

Dakota Lithium is the official battery of Bassmaster and Kayak Bass Fishing.

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The Best Battery for Your RV, Van, or Camper is Dakota Lithium

Here’s a simple guide to what lithium battery is the best for your vehicle.

Size of RV / Van  |  Recommended Battery | Recommended Off-Grid System

• 10′-14 ft | DL 100 Ah x 1 or DL+ 135Ah x 1| 12V 100Ah Off Grid Power System
• 10′-14 ft | DL 100 Ah x 1 or DL+ 135Ah x 1| 12V 100Ah Off Grid Power System
• 15′-20 ft | 1x DL+ 135Ah or 2x DL 100 Ah or 1x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 280 Ah | 12V 100Ah Off Grid Power System or 200Ah Zamp Solar Bundle
• 21′-30 ft | 1x DL+ 280 Ah or 2x DL 100 Ah or 1x DL 200 Ah | 200Ah Zamp Solar Bundle
• 31′-40 ft | 1x DL+ 280 Ah or 2-4x DL 100 Ah or 2x DL 200 Ah
• 40’+ ft | 2x DL+ 280 Ah, or 3-5x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 560 Ah

The Best Batteries for Solar Panels on RVs & Camper Vans

Dakota Lithium batteries are the best choice if you are considering adding solar panels to your RV, Van, or trailer because they have the highest efficiency rating for solar power. That means you get more power from each solar panel, and can use more of the power you collect. A deep dive on solar power efficiency is here.

Here’s a size chart for what solar panels you need by size of RV & how many Dakota Lithium batteries you have.

• Size of RV  |  # of Batteries  |  Recommended Solar Panel Capacity | Recommended Off-Grid Power System
  • 10′-14′ | DL 100 Ah x 1 or DL+ 135Ah x 1 | 100 watts of solar (100 watts x 1) | 12V 100Ah Off Grid Solar Power System
  • 15′-20′ | DL 100 Ah x 1 or DL+ 135Ah x 1 | 100 – 200 watts of solar (100 watts x 1 or 2) | 12V 200Ah Off Grid Solar Power System
  • 21′-30′ | 2x DL+ 135Ah or 1x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 280 Ah | 200 watts of solar (100 watts x 2) | 12V 200Ah Off Grid Solar Power System
  • 31′-40′ | 2x DL+ 135Ah or 1x DL+ 280 Ah | 400 watts of solar (100 watts x 4) | Dakota Lithium 12V 400Ah Off Grid Power System
  • 40’+ | 2x DL+ 280 Ah, or 1x DL+ 560 Ah | 600 watts of solar (100 watts X 6) | Dakota Lithium 12V 400Ah Off Grid Power System

The Best Batteries for RVs with Air Conditioning

Air conditioning appliances draws a lot of power and require a large battery bank when not connected to shore power. At minimum you will need 400 Amp Hours to run air conditioning in a RV trailer, Van, or Camper. The size of the vehicle you are cooling and how often the AC unit will be running determines how many batteries you will need. Please note, this assumes you are running the AC intermittently, and mostly at night. If you are camping in a very hot climate and the AC will be running more then 8 hours a day then you will need additional battery capacity to camp off grid.

Size of RV / Van  |  Hours a Day AC is On  |  Recommended Battery | Recommended Solar Capacity

• 10′-14 ft | 6 – 8 hours | 1x DL+ 280 Ah, or 2x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 560 Ah | 300 watts of solar (100 watts x 3)
• 10′-14 ft | 6 – 8 hours | 1x DL+ 280 Ah, or 2x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 560 Ah | 300 watts of solar (100 watts x 4)
• 15′-20 ft | 6 – 8 hours | 1x DL+ 280 Ah, or 2x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 560 Ah | 400 watts of solar (100 watts x 4)
• 21′-30 ft | 6 – 8 hours | 2x DL+ 280 Ah, or 3x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 560 Ah  | 600 watts of solar (100 watts x 6)
• 31′-40 ft | 6 – 8 hours | 2x DL+ 280 Ah, or 4x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 560 Ah  | 600 watts of solar (100 watts x 6)
• 40’+ ft | 6 – 8 hours | 2x DL+ 280 Ah, or 4x DL 200 Ah or 1x DL+ 560 Ah  | 600 watts of solar (100 watts x 6)

Dakota Lithium batteries Strengths:

Long Cycle Life: LiFePO4 batteries from Dakota Lithium last up to 2,000 to 8,000 charge cycles, 5 – 10X longer than traditional lead-acid batteries.  This provides you with exceptional reliability and peace of mind, backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty.

High energy density: Compared to traditional lead-acid batteries, Dakota Lithium batteries have an exceptionably high energy density. This means they can store more energy in a smaller, lighter package. This makes them an ideal choice for applications where space and weight constraints are concerned. For example, this 48v golf cart battery set has as much usable power as a lead acid battery set but is 1/4 the weight, and 1/3 the total size.

Light weight: Dakota Lithium batteries are anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 the weight of traditional batteries, depending on application. For a golf cart, boat or RV this can be a savings of hundreds of pounds, allowing you to go faster and further on a single charge.

Fast Charging: Dakota Lithium LiFePO4 batteries can be charged 5X faster than traditional lead-acid batteries, so devices and systems can be backed up and running quickly and with less downtime.

Low Self-Discharge: Dakota Lithium batteries have a low rate of self-discharge, which means they can keep their charge for longer without being used. This is a game changer for boat, RV, and motorcycle owners who no longer need to replace their batteries every spring.

Safe and good for the environment: Dakota Lithium LiFePO4 batteries are safer and better for the environment than lead-acid batteries. They don’t contain harmful things like lead or acid, making them less likely to pollute the environment or cause health problems. Dakota Lithium batteries are 100% cobalt and conflict mineral free with lithium sustainably sourced from Austrailia.

Wide Operating Temperature Range: Dakota Lithium batteries can operate effectively in a wide range of temperatures, from -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F). This makes them suitable for use in extreme climates and conditions.

100% US Technical Support: Enjoy exceptional technical support for the lifetime of your battery, backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty.

11 Year Warranty: With nearly two decades of experience engineering and manufacturing lithium batteries, Dakota Lithium knows how long a Dakota Lithium battery will last. That’s why Dakota Lithium has an 11 year warranty on all batteries.

Dakota Lithium’s Technology Advantage

1. Dual Purpose Battery Management System (BMS): Every Dakota Lithium battery is built with a BMS that protects the battery from overcharging, over-discharging, short-circuiting, and high temperatures, ensuring the battery lasts a long, long time, and is safe and performs as designed. Dakota Lithium Plus batteries, like the DL+ 60Ah battery, the DL+ 135Ah battery and DL+ 280Ah battery are built with Dakota Lithium’s patented dual purpose battery management technology. Engineered for maximum reliability, and versatility, the Dakota Lithium Dual Purpose BMS provides both sustained deep cycle performance that gives steady power for a long time AND 1,000 cold cranking amps (CCA) of engine starting power. This ability to both start engines and provide deep cycle performance is the plus is the DL+ line of batteries. The best part is the Dual Purpose BMS gives not only more flexibility, but also enhances the performance of the battery in deep cycle only applications or in engine starting only applications. In deep cycle applications the battery can handle sudden amp spikes, like turning on an air conditioner, that would cause other deep cycle batteries to fail. In engine starting applications the battery uses the deep cycle capacity to provide up to 10X the number of engine starts per charge. More flexible. More Reliable. Simply better.
2. Chemistry & Safety Advantage: Dakota Lithium manufactures exclusively Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. Iron phosphate batteries are also called LiFePO4 or LFP which refers to the chemical makeup of the cells inside the battery. Dakota Lithium’s iron phosphate technology allows the company to engineer for an exceptionally long battery lifespan and safety, allowing for a 5 to 15 year use life depending on applications, backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty. LFP chemistry does not have oxide, preventing the possiblity of a thermal runaway that is possible with other types of lithium batteries. This chemistry safety advantage is why Dakota Lithium batteries are approved by RVIA for use in RV and homes on wheels, and the ABYC for use in boats and marine applications.
3. Ultra-long-lifespan: Dakota Lithium’s research laboratory at the University of North Dakota, PhD scientists and engineers create new cathode and anode battery materials for use in Dakota Lithium batteries. While other battery companies are focused on light weight batteries for air planes, or drones, Dakota Lithium is focused on increasing the lifespan and reliability of Dakota Lithium batteries for use on land and water. This research has allowed Dakota Lithium to launch a series of ultra long lifespan batteries, including the Dakota Lithium 12V 280Ah battery, which has an estimated lifespan of 15 years and exceptional energy density with the usable power of six 100 amp hour group 31 marine batteries inside a Dakota Lithium battery case that is the size of one group 31 battery.
4. Energy Density: Dakota Lithium is leading the industry in energy density by volume (watt-hour per cubic inch). Recent break throughs have resulted in the Dakota Lithium Plus 12V 135Ah battery. Built in a group 24 size battery case, the DL+ 135 Ah battery is 35% smaller in volume than a traditional 100 Ah group 31 marine battery, but has 35% more Amp Hours (Ah). When compared to a traditional group 24 lead acid battery it really shines, with 5X the usable power inside a battery that is the same size as most car batteries. Plus the Dual Purpose BMS allows for 1,000 cold cranking amps, giving you both incredible energy density and versatility.

FAQs:

• How to Choose a Lithium Battery for Trolling Motors
• How to Upgrade Your Golf Cart to Lithium Batteries
• How to Choose a Lithium Battery for RVs, Campers, and Vans