Lightweight starter batteries

[Greybrick]

I've been looking at some lightweight starter batteries to remove weight from the front end of the vehicle and these are a few of the options;

http://www.brailleauto.com/

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc680series.htm

12V 3lb car/motorcycle battery
(https://s.p10.hostingprod.com/@www.voltphreaks.com/ssl/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=36&osCsid=f48c0eb995db876375fe03a0f14e514b)
Keeping a battery at a warmer temperature helps maintain it's efficiency;

http://www.padheaters.com/battery_heater.html

This Lotus forum did a group buy of the 4.5 pound Voltphreaks nano-phosphate lithium batteries with good results;

http://elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42483

[101mpg]

I'm interested in the best battery for my high-MPG CRX (hopefully closing in on a couple) with a 6-speed. Anyone have real-world use of these to compare? At 3-6 pounds some of these sound too good to be true. At $5-700 for some of these, they sound even MORE too good to be true.

A CRX or Civic VX takes a fairly small battery as it is, but the cost of the 100+ MPG CRX will be several thousand over its lifetime, over blue book, but sometimes showing it can be done is worth it.

Anyone with real-world use of lightweight batteries (there are others out there) please chime in. Basically I am looking to find out what to put in for the weight savings. I'm looking to lower the weight over a 1 gen CRX HF (although accomplish it with a 2 gen body) by several hundred pounds.

[civic94]

since youre in canada and the temperatures are low, i wouldnt bother with these batteries. you dont want to be stranded because you want to save a few bucks a year on gas.

[theclencher]

That is, IF removing 20 lbs will save a few bucks in a year.

[Greybrick]

since youre in canada and the temperatures are low, i wouldnt bother with these batteries. you dont want to be stranded because you want to save a few bucks a year on gas.

Generally temperatures in this part of Canada are only cold for about 6 months and during cold months even with a regular 40 lb acid battery many carry a second jump start system as part of their emergency equipment.

http://docfiles.blogspot.com/2007/07/emergency-jump-start-system.html

That is, IF removing 20 lbs will save a few bucks in a year.

In my case the saving by using a 6 pound nano-phosphate lithium type battery would be closer to 35 pounds which would be something even if used as a summer only battery. Aside from just lightening up the vehicle there is also less wear and tear on shocks and steering parts by taking weight off the front end to consider which could help justify the cost. Hopefully the cost of these will come down quickly as the US manufacturer of nano-phosphate lithium cells gets up to speed.

http://www.a123systems.com/#/applications/UPS/

.

[mrmad]

How about a garden tractor battery? See the thread below how one is installed in an Integra

http://www.team-integra.net/forum/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=15&TopicID=219301&SearchPagePosition=1&search=%22tractor%22&searchMode=allwords&searchIn=Topic&forum=0&searchSort=dateDESC&ReturnPage=Search

[Greybrick]

An added benefit to using a lightweight small battery is that it could be positioned closer to the starter and by including a shorter lower resistance starter cable should allow for use of a lower amperage battery. By replacing the alternator to battery cable with a similar lower resistance cable battery recharge should be achieved sooner as well.

[brucepick]

I think if you're going flat out for a high MGP car it would be worthwhile. In my case I really like the reliability of a large battery.

I kinda hate to admit it but my beast weighs about 3000 lb PLUS my tools that ride in the wagon cargo area. Weight is part of the deal with this vehicle. So saving maybe 20-30 lb with a smaller battery doesn't seem to be my path. Before I got interested in FE I searched out the largest batteries I could jam in there. I want to be able to start always, and I also like being able to jump start other cars as a favor.

My commutes have been about an hour each way for several years so I'm glad to have the tools along. She has over 312K miles on the clock and in the eight years since I threw the tools in the car I've used them during the commute four times so far, plus one flat tire change.