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RUPERT HOLMES INVESTIGATES A NEW TYPE OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERY THAT REALLY CAN HAVE A LONGER LIFE

What is it? LiFePO4 battery that can be serviced and repaired at the level of individual cells

Who's it for? Long term cruisers and offshore racers

We are increasingly turning to lithium ion phosphate batteries to power our boats' systems. Yet despite their many advantages they can also be associated with a number of potential problems that are rarely discussed.

In particular, a single faulty cell can result in premature failure of the entire battery, even if the unit has completed only a small percentage of its rated number of charge/discharge cycles. Granted, this doesn't appear to be a common problem, but it's by no means unknown.