News

LiFePO4 Drop-in Replacement Battery with BMS for Deep-Cycle Applications

January 16, 2019 by Scott McMahan

Just months after launching its all-new LT Series of batteries that are optimized for cold-weather performance, RELiON introduced the Insight Series, its next generation of lithium batteries. The company asserts that this new addition to the RELiON family of products is the first scalable LiFePO4 drop-in replacement battery, that comes in industry-standard sizes and requires no extra hardware when connected in parallel. RELiON designed the InSight Series batteries to replace lead-acid batteries in any deep cycle application, such as golf carts, marine, RVs, renewable energy systems, floor machines, scissor lifts, and many more.

The company points out that not all lithium batteries are created equal and that it pays to know how to read your battery's management system (BMS). According to RELiON, the Insight Series takes the guessing game out of reading the battery management system with the arrival of the company's SuperSmart BMS, that is said to maximize battery performance, even when connected in parallel, thus eliminating the need for an external master BMS, or any additional hardware.

The unique algorithms in the company's SuperSmart BMS reportedly assure precise balancing. This balancing optimizes performance in each battery when multiple batteries are connected in parallel, providing maximum capacity and life. According to the company,  up to 128 of the batteries can be connected in parallel.

"The SuperSmart BMS included with the Insight Series touts everything from accurate balancing using the Bullseye Balancing technology, allowing you to scale up to the capacity you need without compromise, to charge control which allows you to use almost any charger with our batteries," began Christine Feodorov, RELiON's VP Product Development and Strategy. "And end users are not left in the dark with the LED indicator lights that display the battery's status at a glance, letting you know if your battery needs a recharge."

Unlike other lithium batteries that can trap heat, the InSight Series also features Intelligent Cooling using a carefully engineered passive heat management system to rapidly remove heat from inside the battery during conditions of high discharge and recharge currents. This prevents over-heating of critical components, which also extends the life of the battery.

The InSight Series batteries come in GC2 sizes with 12V, 24V, 36V, and 48V configurations, each equipped with the LiFePO4 chemistry that the company describes as inherently safe. RELiON plans to introduce additional InSight Series standard battery drop-in sizes later in 2019.

"We've created a culture of innovation at RELiON. Adding this unique technology to our product offering is big not only for our company, but for the battery industry as a whole. The SuperSmart BMS alone will play an integral part in the customer experience and the kind of intuitive design consumers will begin to expect from battery technology companies going forward," said Paul Hecimovich, CEO, RELiON Battery.

RELiON will showcase the InSight Series at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL January 23 - 25 in booth #3020. The company will also host an official unveiling party for the battery series Jan. 23 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm in room 305B at the convention center.