All of the batteries we have discussed so far are variations of lead-acid battery technology and utilize the same internal chemistry. Because of this, they all suffer from similar shortcomings in their operational performance.

All types of lead-acid batteries require stringent usage and charging requirements to obtain their full-service life. Since deep discharge and partial charging can damage the battery, discharge, and charge levels need to be monitored to obtain the full life of these batteries. These batteries also take a long time to recharge and require a special absorption charge cycle to get a full charge. This makes lead acid batteries a poor choice for applications that require a large number of charge and discharge cycles, such as renewable power applications.

12 volt lithium battery type.

Lithium-ion batteries are relatively new and are currently the most expensive of the 12-volt battery types. However, they offer many advantages for those willing to upgrade. Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries use lithium salts to create more efficient power storage. The unit cost of an RV lithium-ion battery is about $900.

Pros.

Lithium-ion batteries have the highest storage capacity of any RV 12V battery type and have the fastest and most efficient charging. They also have the longest range before needing to be replaced, sometimes 3-5 times longer than conventional batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and do not require as much regular maintenance as other types of batteries.

Finally, unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries can release more stored energy without damaging the battery or reducing power. Because of all these charging benefits, this type of battery performs very well in repetitive and partial charging tasks, such as solar energy systems.

Lithium-ion batteries can be installed anywhere and do not need to conform to existing shapes and sizes. The Battle Born GC3 battery has a different profile that packs a lot of power into a unique shape that can be installed anywhere.

Cons

Lithium-ion batteries are the most expensive of the 12-volt batteries currently available. In addition, because lithium-ion battery technology is newer, if you want to switch to a lithium-ion battery system, you'll need to upgrade more than just the battery.

However, lithium-ion batteries last much longer and have electronics installed inside to protect both the battery and you. Overall, these make the batteries safer than lead-acid alternatives.

Finally, they will limit the current flow to the nameplate label. This means that most lithium-ion 12-volt batteries cannot be used as engine-starting batteries.