Bass boaters are opening hatches and wallets to lithium batteries, despite high cost and fire potential. Lithium technology has reduced fire incidents however, if involved in a fire, they’re nearly impossible to extinguish.
Anglers are putting those risks aside because of space and weight reduction. One lithium can replace three standard batteries, reducing weight by 2/3. Livewells and electronics can be powered with long lasting lithium. Lithium gives no notice when empty, so many have opted for redundant battery set ups. Standard lead acid batteries are required to start outboards.
Bass boat engineers plan for conventional battery weight. Performance, affected by lighter lithium, results in poor hole shot, turning, and top speeds. Hit and miss jack plate and propeller modifications might restore performance.
Lithium batteries can’t handle being bounced around; typically, what batteries go through. They don’t charge or perform well in cold weather.
Adding to lithium concerns is lithium confusion, with specifications many don’t understand. Special charging systems are needed. Modifications are necessary to protect fishing and boating electronics. Power surges and lightning strikes could be extremely hazardous.
Bass boaters have relied on Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries for decades, providing deep-cycle power. AGM batteries are quick to charge and hold up to being bounced around in rough water and are totally sealed to prevent leaks, increasing lifespan.
Pennsylvania battery maker East Penn manufactures DEKA Marine Master AGM batteries that are virtually 100% recyclable. East Penn’s sophisticated recycling facility processes approximately 30,000 batteries per day. Lead, over 200 million pounds, is recycled into new batteries, battery clamps and cables. Eleven million pounds of plastic goes directly to the molding division.
East Penn’s acid reclamation plant was the battery industry’s first of its kind. Converting millions of gallons of battery acid into a fertilizer to serve the local farming community. That’s as clean as it can get.
Lithium presents several issues, from collection to recycling, falling short of the number of recycling facilities accepting lead batteries. To further impact the environment, the level of raw material mining needed for lithium batteries presents significant environmental and social issues. Most lithium batteries weren’t designed for safe and efficient disassembly and taking these batteries apart can generate toxic dust that can contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and can pollute soil. Damaged batteries or those that experienced thermal runaway release extremely poisonous or flammable gasses.
Saving the lithium is not effective as aluminum, copper and iron must be removed which is complex and expensive. Unlike lead battery recycling, there’s no single process for recycling lithium-ion batteries that combines low environmental impact and energy cost with high metal yields. A series of tradeoffs reduce the environmental impact of lithium battery disposal, never reaching net-zero. The recent surge in lithium bass boat batteries is based on weight and longevity and sounds good until all elements are weighed. But costing more than four times AGM batteries, emerging and uncertain recycling, along with uncontrolled fire potential gives many bass boaters reason to stay with proven AGM technology.
Author Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac bass fishing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. YouTube video channel NationalBassGuide
