Outfitting a kayak with electronics and electric motors is impossible without the latest battery technology. Forward-facing sonar, multi-function displays, trolling motor and electric outboard are only possible with powerful, lightweight, reliable and durable lithium batteries. The latest battery tech features smart batteries with Bluetooth connection and bulletproof construction to make electrifying a kayak safe and easy.
Power Trip: The Latest Lithium Batteries For Your Kayak Build
Latest Trends
By now, the advantages of lithium batteries are well known. Ben Larson at Norsk Lithium explains, “Lithium batteries offer twice the runtime, half the weight, five times faster charging, and up to five times longer lifespan in a safe, stable, maintenance-free design.”
Lithium batteries make it possible to power electronics and propulsion despite a kayak’s limited space and weight capacity. A typical set-up includes one or two large batteries to run motors and a smaller battery to power lights and electronics. A traditional lead-acid battery costs less than a lithium battery but doubles the weight and shortens the range.
Another big reason anglers switch to lithium is efficiency; lead-acid and AGM batteries only offer about 60 percent usable capacity, while lithium batteries deliver nearly 100 percent depth-of-discharge. With a lead-acid battery, performance drops as the power depletes, but a lithium battery maintains full power from 100-percent to zero charge.
Lithium batteries are tougher than lead-acid batteries allowing the kayak angler to mount the battery outside the kayak hull where it encounters dirt, dust and moisture. The Norsk Lithium batteries are IP67 waterproof. The cells are mounted in an internal cell rack and filled with epoxy to reduce vibration and shock.
The latest trend is adding features that make lithium batteries more user friendly. One of the biggest advantages is Bluetooth connection to a smartphone app to monitor, charge, draw and other battery functions. The Bluetooth app acts like a fuel gauge allowing the angler to view remaining charge and adjust motor speed to maximize range. Monitoring real-time information about battery charge and draw provides peace of mind to go farther and fish longer.
Other new features expand usability. For example, the 14.8V Norsk Lithium batteries include a waterproof USB B and USB C power outlet to charge a smartphone or power lights. The Norsk Lithium batteries also feature an advanced storage mode that disconnects power to the terminals to prevent the battery from discharging while in storage. Accessing the storage mode is easy from the power management button on top of the battery or from the free Norsk Lithium smartphone app.
Safety and Maintenance
Lithium batteries got a bad wrap when early examples overheated and exploded. Ben Larson says, “Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry is inherently stable and resistant to thermal runaway.” As long as the battery is used, maintained and stored properly, the latest generation of lithium batteries is safer than a lead-acid battery.
The first step is charging the battery. Not all chargers are the same. The best smart chargers balance the cells and maintain a healthy state of charge for long-term performance. Check the owner’s manual for compatible aftermarket chargers.
Each battery has an optimal temperature range for charging. “Norsk Lithium offers batteries in our marine line with a heated core to warm the battery to charge in extreme conditions,” Larson says. Compared to a lead-acid battery with hundreds of charge cycles and a three- to five-year life cycle, a lithium battery lasts through thousands of charge cycles for up to 15-20 years.
Advanced electronics and electric motors require reliable, stable and versatile power for the best performance. Luckily, the latest lithium batteries are more than qualified for the job. With the correct battery rigged and maintained properly, an angler has the power to take his kayak build to the next level.
Battery control at your fingertips. Welcome to the future. | Feature photo: Courtesy Norsk Lithium
