[EVMax]

The OEM 12V Starter Battery on the 2018 Smart Electric Drive is a 60Ah lead acid. Is it possible to replace this with a 12V LiFePO4 100Ah battery? Will the electric drive be able to charge LiFePO4 batteries?

 

[Jeb Baker]

Would be nice if it could wouldn't it? I've been wanting to do that since I found out about LiFePO4's and how they supposedly can be used in motorcycles without changing the alernator.
But it seems all EV's, even Tesla's, use 12v lead acid starter batteries, and I think I saw something about Elon Musk recently tweeting an acknowledgement about the public's concern about this archaic (from the 1800's) energy storage solution. Also I think Vincent Rapide here on the forum may have already tried to put one in. This is a big issue here in the forums, with some 451 ED's bricking due to a failed 12v battery, causing the whole car to shut down permanently. With 453's, like yours and mine, there's been no problem reported (so far).

 

[lebikerboy]

Tesla s use an aftermarket LiFePO battery which is model dependent. As an example the Model S uses a 30 Amp version.
Remember that the only time the 12Volt is required is when the system powers up and once the HV drive is running you're good to go.
We've been running a 38 Amp LiFePO battery (which fits perfectly) in our 2017 smart ED for six months with no problems whatsoever...

 

[Jeb Baker]

Tesla s use an aftermarket LiFePO battery which is model dependent. As an example the Model S uses a 30 Amp version.
Remember that the only time the 12Volt is required is when the system powers up and once the HV drive is running you're good to go.
We've been running a 38 Amp LiFePO battery (which fits perfectly) in our 2017 smart ED for six months with no problems whatsoever...

Great to hear! Which LiFePO battery did you buy?

 

[lebikerboy]

I bought mine from Aliexpress company called Moseworth...