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Lithium Leisure Batteries in 2025: Why It’s Time to Switch
- Chris Wallace-Tarry
- 2 days ago
- 12 min read
Updated: 37 minutes ago
When designing an electrical system, the real limitation to off-grid comfort is your usable battery capacity. For a long time, a key question when choosing leisure batteries has been whether to go for an AGM or lithium battery. This dynamic has shifted and nowadays, lithium leisure batteries are so good that they've completely supplanted AGM in terms of cost, weight, lifespan, and other key metrics. In this article, we'll break down the maths behind this comparison, and show you why we now recommend lithium leisure batteries for all electrical systems.
If you're just getting started, make sure you read our full guide on leisure batteries. In that article, we go in-depth into how they work, key specifications, battery chemistries, maintenance, and wiring.
Index
Shane, the founder of The Van Conversion, is a campervan professional and NCC-certified electrical installer. Since 2020, he’s lived on the road full-time, completing several van builds along the way. He’s the author of Roaming Home and the creator of The Van Conversion Course, which have helped thousands build their own vans. Shane also writes The Van Conversion Newsletter, where he shares hands-on tips and practical insights. He’s passionate about empowering others to make their vanlife dreams reality.
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In a Nutshell
We recommend lithium leisure batteries in all campervan cases for the following reasons:
Lithium (LiFePO4) gives ~1.6-2x usable capacity vs. an AGM battery of the same rated capacity
Cost per usable Ah now conclusively favours lithium leisure batteries over any other chemistry
Modern lithium batteries have incredible service lives, 3-10x longer than AGM
Lithium batteries are typically twice as light as AGM, and three or four times lighter when comparing usable capacity
Lithium leisure batteries often feature advanced built-in features, like integrated BMSs, Bluetooth modules, and self-heating
Our choice for the best lithium leisure battery manufacturer in the UK is Fogstar. All their batteries offer superior lifespans, price-per-amp-hour figures, and deep discharge tolerance, making them an easy recommendation. We particularly love that they offer both an excellent value ECO range and a premium Pro range, so there's a battery for everyone.
Best Small Battery | Best Mid-sized Battery | Best Large Battery | Best Budget Battery | Best Premium Battery |
Fogstar Drift 105Ah Lithium Leisure Battery | Fogstar Drift 230Ah Lithium Leisure Battery | Fogstar Drift 300Ah Lithium Leisure Battery | Fogstar Drift ECO 314Ah Lithium Leisure Battery | Fogstar Drift Pro 300Ah Lithium Leisure Battery |
 |  |  |  |  |
For readers in the US and Canada, we recommend Li-Time lithium leisure batteries for similar reasons: excellent usable capacity and lifespan stats, high-quality cells, comprehensive documentation, and smart quality-of-life features.
Benefits of Lithium Leisure Batteries: Usable Capacity and Depth of Discharge
Batteries are often marketed by their total or rated capacity, but the amount of this stated capacity that's actually usable varies wildly. Most AGM batteries are severely damaged by regular deep discharges. For example, this lifespan curve provided by Rolls for their deep cycle AGM batteries shows that the battery will be usable for about 1,200 full charge-discharge cycles if discharged to 50% of its rated capacity. This number drops as the depth of discharge increases; if you regularly discharge by 80%, you'll only get about 600 cycles.
1,200 cycles at 50% depth of discharge isn't a bad figure; if you discharge and recharge your battery by 50% every 24 hours, it would last for 3 years before needing replacement. Weekend warriors could probably use their battery for more like 10 years.
However, limiting your discharge to 50% means you'd need to double your total capacity to have a given usable capacity. You're either buying two batteries, or a battery that's twice as big. Let's compare this with lithium (LiFePO4) batteries. Most manufacturers publish lifespans based on discharging by 80%; here's a breakdown of these figures for some popular marques:
These lifespans are at least twice as long as those of AGM batteries, and many are more like four times as long. Additionally, these lifespans are what you get when discharging your battery by 80%, instead of only 50%. This means that you only have to buy a battery with a rated capacity that's slightly bigger than your usage. In fact, many modern lithium batteries will happily last thousands of cycles to 100% discharge. Redodo's batteries can be 100% discharged 4,000 times; and Fogstar's mid-size batteries can be 100% discharged 3,500 times.
What we're seeing here is that a lithium camper battery has a much better usable capacity and lifespan than an AGM battery. The trade-off used to be a higher cost for a lithium vs AGM battery, but that's no longer the case.
Are Lithium Batteries Worth it? Comparing Price Per Usable Amp-Hour
We can look at a couple of metrics to see that lithium leisure batteries are a worthwhile investment. First, we'll look at price per usable amp-hour. We'll take the manufacturer's recommended maximum discharge (usually 60-80% for deep cycle AGM batteries and 80-100% for lithium) and use this to calculate the usable capacity of the battery. Then, we'll see how much each usable amp-hour costs for a given battery model.
We can also look at cost per kWh-throughput, which is the price per kWh across the battery's lifespan. We calculate this by multiplying a battery's usable capacity by its lifespan when discharged by that capacity. A higher usable capacity makes price per kW-throughput lower, but so does a longer lifespan. This figure will show us a battery's value as an investment over time.
We'll look at a number of batteries of comparable rated capacity, both AGM and lithium:
Battery | Usable Capacity | Lifespan | Price | Price/usable Ah | Price/kWh-throughput |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
184Ah | 4,000 cycles to 80% discharge | £499.99 | £2.72 | £0.68 | |
160Ah | 5,000 cycles to 80% discharge | £399.99 | £2.50 | £0.50 | |
200Ah | 4,000 cycles to 100% discharge | £330 | £1.65 | £0.41 | |
160Ah | 2,500 cycles to 100% discharge | £900 | £5.63 | £2.25 | |
172.8Ah | 3,500 cycles to 80% discharge | £885 | £5.12 | £1.46 | |
184Ah | 600 cycles to 80% discharge | £521.28 | £2.83 | £4.72 | |
184Ah | 600 cycles to 80% discharge | £485.54 | £2.64 | £4.40 | |
138Ah | 700 cycles to 60% discharge | £429.41 | £3.11 | £4.45 | |
168Ah | 800 cycles to 80% discharge | £650 | £3.87 | £4.84 | |
128.4Ah | 600 cycles to 80% discharge | £519.53 | £4.05 | £6.74 |
It's clear that certain lithium camper battery manufacturers are able to offer price/usable Ah figures that are superior to those of any AGM battery. Newer marques like Fogstar, Renogy, and Redodo are bucking the trend of lithium batteries being more expensive upfront than AGM, a situation we still see when looking at established brands like Victron and TN Power. However, regardless of the upfront cost, there's no contest when looking at the price per kWh over the battery's lifetime. Lithium batteries represent a far better investment over the long term.
How Can Lithium Batteries be so Cheap?
There's clearly a split in the lithium battery market. Longer-established manufacturers like Victron, RELiON, and TN Power are being shown up by a new wave of brands offering equivalent or better specs for half the price or less. The ability of brands like Renogy and Redodo to offer such low prices is partly explained by a global explosion in lithium cell production and a drop in raw material price.
However, these manufacturers tend to be much less transparent about the materials that go into their cells, the quality of their integrated BMS modules, and the conditions under which they test battery lifespans. They also tend to be quite light on certifications, publishing only minimum safety certifications (UN 38.3) and skipping on more detailed (and expensive), pack-level testing (IEC 62619/UL1973/UL9540A). In my view, this casts doubt on the reliability of lifespan claims, longterm performance, and integration with other campervan electrics.
This is why we recommend Fogstar lithium leisure batteries so highly. They're a UK manufacturer which uses grade-A EVE prismatic lithium cells and high-quality JDB BMS modules; we know what's in their batteries and that they're well made. They don't publish pack-level test reports which are standard for marine and industrial applications, but their documentation is solid and they publish CE/UKCA and IP67 certificates. They also offer UK-based support, lending credibility to their 10-year warranties.
Lithium Leisure Batteries are Lighter
Weight is an important consideration when building a campervan, and your battery bank is likely to be one of your heaviest single components. Heavy batteries are harder to handle, harder to mount, and eat into your payload limit. Let's compare those lithium vs. AGM battery models again, and see how they stack up in terms of weight per usable amp-hour:
Battery | Usable Capacity | Weight | Weight/usable Ah |
|---|---|---|---|
184Ah | 25kg | 136g | |
160Ah | 20.2kg | 126g | |
200Ah | 19.95kg | 100g | |
160Ah | 20kg | 125g | |
172.8Ah | 28kg | 162g | |
184Ah | 59kg | 321g | |
184Ah | 61kg | 332g | |
138Ah | 57kg | 413g | |
168Ah | 60kg | 357g | |
128.4Ah | 59.9kg | 467g |
We can clearly see that lithium batteries are already about half as heavy as AGM for a given rated capacity. When we look at weight per usable amp-hour, lithium batteries are more like three or four times lighter than AGM. This makes them much easier to install, gives you more mounting options, and makes them easier to balance against other heavy components in your van. You'll also have a lighter van overall, giving you more room to breathe against load limits and saving you fuel.
Lithium Leisure Batteries Provide Better Power Delivery and Charging Performance
Lithium doesn’t just give you more amp-hours; it delivers those amps with far more punch. Where an AGM is happiest providing ~0.2–0.3C (equating to 20–30A from a 100Ah battery) and sags under heavy loads, a like-for-like LiFePO₄ can comfortably supply up to ~1C. For example, Fogstar's 230Ah battery can provide up to 250A when discharging, equating to 3000W at 12V. This means your inverter sees a steadier voltage and wattage, allowing you to power high-draw appliances like coffee machines, induction hobs, or hairdryers.
Charging is the same story in reverse. Lithium accepts higher current for longer through the charge curve, so you charge faster from DC-DC and solar. That Fogstar battery can receive up to 250A in charging current, in contrast to a maximum recommended current of 40A for the Rolls AGM battery. You'd need a very big solar array to exceed 40A, but B2B chargers offering in excess of 40A are common. Mains battery chargers, like the Victron MultiPlus, can easily provide currents of 100A or more. If you want fast charging and have a B2B and mains charger to back it up, you'll see much much better performance with a lithium battery.
Advanced Features of Lithium Leisure Batteries
Manufacturers like Fogstar and Renogy include Bluetooth modules in their batteries as standard. Coupled with smart BMS modules which collect a full suite of charging and discharging data, this allows you to monitor your battery's status and performance using your phone or computer. It's a really brilliant feature, as it removes the need to install a separate monitoring device. Using an app, you can always see what your batteries are doing, get an insight into how efficiently your systems are charging them, and see how quickly they're being drained, all in real time.
Many lithium leisure batteries also now come with integrated heating modules. Limited cold-temperature charging and discharging used to be a major downside of lithium batteries. Winter vanlifers had to be careful to keep them very well insulated or wire in external battery heating pads. Now, you can buy a single unit which automatically heats itself using its own internal power; no need for wiring or setting anything up.
Final Thougths and The Best Lithium Leisure Battery Manufacturer
In the end, is lithium better than AGM? Our comparisons show clearly that lithium batteries are becoming the only reasonable choice in almost all use-cases. AGM used to make sense for installations that would see only very infrequent use or where regular sub-zero temperatures were an issue. We now see that brands like Fogstar and Renogy can offer such good price-per-usable-Ah figures that they recommend themselves no matter how often you're using the battery. Additionally, self-heating lithium batteries keep themselves healthy even in the cold.
Lithium leisure batteries cost less than AGM batteries upfront for a given usable capacity, and pay for themselves many times over in the long term. For high-capacity electrical systems, a lithium battery's high power output and capacity for fast charging makes it the only choice. Advanced integrated features are the icing on the cake, simplifying your installation whilst giving you advanced monitoring and control capabilities.
The only caveat we have is for marine installations. The stakes are higher in a boat than in a camper due to the harsher environment and the fact that a battery malfunction at sea is far more dangerous. Consequently, insurance and standards are much stricter, and batteries lacking rigorous pack-level certifications (IEC 62619/UL1973) are therefore harder to recommend. This leaves the more expensive brands like Victron, RELiON, and TN Power, which are more expensive than AGM upfront (though the cost over their whole lifetime is still far superior).
The Best Lithium Leisure Battery Manufacturer
For campervan installations, it's easy to recommend Fogstar as our favourite battery manufacturer. In our view, they're the perfect midpoint between suspect budget brands and expensive premium marques:
Pros
Much cheaper than AGM in terms of upfront cost and cost over lifetime High-quality grade-A EVE prismatic lithium cells, compared to unstated construction of cheaper brands High-spec JDB BMS modules compared to unspecified BMS technology in cheaper brands
Excellent lifespan
Integrated heating and IP67 as standard
Decent suite of safety and build quality certifications
UK-based support service
Cons
More expensive on these metrics than very cheap labels like Renogy and Redodo Don't have the pedigree of established manufacturers like Victron and TN Power
Lack the full suite of pack-level certifications boasted by premium brands
In our view, Fogstar batteries are the right choice for any campervan application due to their excellent value and competition-beating specs. They further recommend themselves with three distinct ranges: the Drift ECO range for budget builds, their flagship Drift range for a balance of price and feature set, and their Drift Pro range for high-spec systems. Check out Fogstar's range of premium, affordable lithium batteries for your electrical system today.
Alternative Lithium Leisure Battery Brands
For readers who can't get a hold of Fogstar batteries, we recommend Li-Time lithium leisure batteries as an alternative. Like Fogstar, Li-Time make their batteries using grade-A EVE prismatic lithium cells and make similar claims regarding usable capacity and lifespan. Their in-built BMS modules offer all the protections you could ask for, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and CAN integration in some models, which means they can interface with Victron monitoring systems. Overall, Li-Time's documentation is clear and comprehensive, and we especially like knowing the cells they use and that their batteries play nicely in Victron systems.
If you need more information on leisure batteries before buying yours, check out our comprehensive guide for answers to all your questions. For more detailed comparisons, sizing guidance, and information on optional extra devices, check out our full leisure battery buyer's guide.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Van Conversion Newsletter for everything you need to get started with your own van conversion (we'll send you a free wiring diagram when you join).
If you're looking for some guidance with your van conversion, you might be interested in our book Roaming Home, or in our online course The Van Conversion Mastery Course. You'll learn directly from our founder Shane how to convert a van into your dream home - no prior experience needed. Shane also offers one-to-one consultations, where he'll help you with any aspect of your build in a face-to-face video call. All consultations come with a free copy of Roaming Home and our Diagram Pack.
Finally, our Van Conversion Ultimate Guide lays out the whole van conversion process in easy-to-follow sections with tools, materials, and step-by-step instructions. It's the perfect companion for your van build.
Until next time.