Lose almost a stone in weight - overnight!!!

[Bruce Fielding]

No it's not an amazing internet diet (step four will astound you!)

I met a man the other day...

Paul, who works for Antigravity Batteries.

He gave me a battery to hold that would replace the Varley Red Top 25. It was unbelievable. You know the box that the Varley comes in? This entire battery weighs about the same as that box! I couldn't believe it was a real battery. Thought it was just a mockup. But it wasn't.

Rather than going on a crash diet, you can save about 6 kilos by replacing the 7 kilo Varley Red Top 25 with one of their lithium batteries that weighs under a kilo. Only snag is you have to use the car regularly or employ a battery conditioner. Oh and they're more expensive, but that you'd expect. There may be other things I don't know about - I'm no expert, yet. Internet forums don't always offer useful or accurate advice (except for this one, of course!)

It'd make a great aftermarket change for existing owners I think - and might be a cracking thing to have as OE from the factory?

I can't remember exactly which of their batteries it was, but I've asked Paul (I'll add it to this post when I hear back from him). The club might even be able to negotiate a members discount with enough interest.

I'm sure other Lithium batteries are available, I just never picked one up before - It's a bit like the difference between an ordinary car wheel and a Dymag.

[smokin]

Looked at Lithium as an option for my Ginetta. However, MSA regs due next Jan say:

Date of implementation: 1 January 2019
5.14.9. If non lead acid batteries are used as the main vehicle battery, the battery pack(s) must carry the appropriate “EC” markings and be either a Standard Part or manufactured by an MSA registered manufacturer.

Reason:
There is concern over the safety of Lithium Ion Batteries. Without the correct battery management systems there could be a fire hazard. By ensuring the batteries are commercially available parts that the manufacturer recommends for motor sport use it ensures the batteries used are to the correct safety standards.


If Antigravity Batteries are heading down the homologation route then I'd be interested.

[Bruce Fielding]

From what I've read since earlier, there used to be an issue with them catching fire, but that's been addressed as I understand it.

Also, it may be that racing Atoms are required to adhere to MSA regs. Road cars won't be. Motorbikes - especially custom bikes - have been using these for a while now with no significant issues. Especially with the latest ones.

If anyone has any questions (including this one), I'll be happy to ask Paul - or you can get in touch directly.

[Bruce Fielding]

First response from Paul:

Our 12 cell battery is essentially the equivalent of the Varley Red Top and comes in a variety of case sizes eg. AG 1201 Small case, ATX12-12, AT12BS-12 & ATZ12-12, all oem case size batteries. They all have the same cranking amps as each other which is a little higher than the Red Top 25 (360 vs 310) and all have the same amp hour as each other, a little lower than the Red Top at 12 aHr vs 20 aHr. I feel that the amp hour is fairly irrelevant in your application but if you feel that you needed more, you could go up a (power) size to a sixteen cell.

The price is currently (sic) £242 vs. £120 for the Varley. I'm asking for Club discount - natch.

This one, however, is a whopping 1.3 Kilos!

[autobackup]

Bruce

It should be pointed out that if anybody swaps to a Lithium Battery for their Ariel car that it is absolutely essential that olong with the battery a specialist Lithium Smart Battery charger is also purchased at same time (these aren't cheap!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-LITHIUM-X ... B00D5T086Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCrwLZdTi6E - this is a link to an Australian promo but you'll get the idea!

[Bruce Fielding]

Thanks! Yes, I did know that. Paul sells those too. You only need that if you don't use the car much.

This is one of the ones they sell: https://www.antigravitybatteries-uk.co. ... tm470.html

Is £65 expensive?

[Bruce Fielding]

And Paul is going for MSA approval:


Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the heads up, a couple of people have mentioned this over the past weekend. I have just spoken to the MSA technical department and they see no problem putting us on the approved list once we, and the factory have completed the relevant forms confirming that the batteries are suitable for motorsport use. As they have been designed and manufactured specifically for this purpose the process should be pretty straightforward and we are embarking on that endeavour immediately.

Best regards,
Paul.

[smokin]

And Paul is going for MSA approval:

Great news.

[Bruce Fielding]

Paul will give club members a discount of 10%. I'll leave it to club management to arrange the discount code with Paul

[Oli1122]

Saving weight on the most unwanted point of the whole car?

There are LiFePO4 batteries with balancer and a weight of 1.3kg
Prices starting at around 211£

[Bruce Fielding]

There are LiFePO4 batteries with balancer and a weight of 1.3kg
Prices starting at around 211£

As I said, other batteries are available.

However, this is a nice guy going for MSA approval and deserves some reward for his efforts (and he's giving us a discount).

Saving weight on the most unwanted point of the whole car?

As for the position of the weight, any weight saving is good if it helps the handling of the car. I agree that sometimes the Atom is a little lightheaded at the front, but the position of the battery is well behind the front axle. If you like your Atom lardy, perhaps the extra 6 kilos could be added with a lump of lead on the tip of the nose?

[Bruce Fielding]

Hi Chaps

I don't come here much nowadays, but had an email from Paul who is delighted to have just received MSA approval of his batteries.

Offer still stands (10% discount), and I believe some Atoms are already using them.

Hi Bruce,

Confirmation af MSA approval for our batteries.
Had very happy customers using our AG1601 batteries on their Atoms.

Regards,
Paul.