Lithium LiFePO4 12v Battery?

Battery Replacement

If you don’t feel comfortable replacing the 12v battery, find a friend or mechanic that is competent at working on cars and willing to pull panels and remove hard-to-get-to bolts. A competent person can do the replacement in about 30 minutes after watching the videos linked in the next paragraph. My husband is ready to do the third FUV and he doesn’t think it’s a big deal. But then he is competent and has small, agile hands.

FB has some good videos on the process to replace the battery: Part 1 Part 2 

Videos on how to slide the old battery out and slide the new one in.

Why a Lithium Ion (LiFePO4) Battery

There are some people that are swapping their 12v AGM battery for a 12V lithium (LiFePO4). I'm hearing word that the FUV battery controller actually works with lithium batteries well. 

Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries run between $63 and $250 and include a built in battery management system allowing the battery to cut off if it gets drawn down below 10 volts. This should have been built into the FUV BMS but for whatever reason was not. Also, LiFePO4 batteries weigh almost half the AGM battery the FUV comes with (7lbs vs 13lbs).

REMINDER: Make sure your LiFePO4 battery is fully charged *before* installation. LiFePO4 batteries are usually shipped at 30-50% charge by law. Make sure your charger is set to LiFePO4 setting or buy a charger that charges LiFePO4 batteries.

OEM Interstate Battery

Your Arcimoto likely came with an AGM battery like the Interstate DCM0018 AGM. It costs about $80 to replace. The problem with AGM batteries is they tend to get ruined after one or two discharges. So if you find yourself having to trickle charging the battery or jump cable it to get the Arcimoto touchscreen up so you can plug in your EVSE, then you probably will need a new battery soon.

Amped LiFePO4

Amped Outdoors 30Ah Lithium Battery (LiFePO4) - Tall Version - 3 year warranty - $200

We have now successfully replaced the standard battery with this Amped LiFePO4 on 4 different FUVs. We also like to order the $20 charger to get it fully charged before installation.

This battery needs a hex 5mm screw to hook up the ring wires. Watch out, if the screw is too long, you’ll have to use washers. We ended up ordering 100 from Mcmaster because they were M5 x .8mm x 8mm long, a really weird size. We also got stainless. If you need any, I send them out for free, just message me. If you order the Amped battery directly from Amped, you can also order a little 3amp charger for about $20. Well worth it if you need to jump start the LiFePO4 battery and to charge it when you first get it.

Eco Worthy 12v 20Ah LiFePO4

ECO-WORTHY 12V 20Ah LiFePO4 - 1 year warranty - $60

I don’t know much about these $63 ECO-WORTHY 12V 20Ah LiFePO4 batteries but I know a technician that is using them exclusively. They only have a 1 year warranty and the reviews on Amazon aren’t stellar. But it is a cheap battery.

Dakota Lithium 12v 25 Ah LiFePO4

Dakota Lithium 12v 25 Ah LiFePO4 - 11 year warranty - $250

There are a few people that have installed the Dakota successfully. It has a really long 11 year warranty and looks to be a fine battery option.

Why the OEM Battery Die

Firstly, AGM batteries like the OEM one that comes in your FUV have a 3-5 year lifespan. They are very picky about staying charged. 

For background, there is a relationship between the high voltage (HV) lithium ion big battery and low voltage (LV) 12v system. The 12v will die if left unattended because the HV pack cycles every 45 minutes to recharge the 12v. After 10-14 days, the HV SOC will drop to zero and will no longer charge the 12v battery and can damage the 12v battery. Arcimoto recommends leaving the vehicle plugged in so that the 12v maintenance system continues to deliver about 13.4v to your LV system.

Brief steps

1. Make sure your LiFePO4 battery is fully charged *before* installation. LiFePO4 batteries are usually shipped at 30-50% charge by law.
2. Trip the breaker on the right side
3. Remove the left big panel near the driver’s knee
4. Pull the outside panel away from the edge to give yourself more room to remove the battery 
5. There are 4 bolts that you need to remove to get the battery out.
6. Disconnect the battery.
7. Find the two bolts on either side of the battery - they are a bit below center of each side.
8. Remove the bolt on the left - you can see it. 
9. Remove the bolt on the right - you cannot see so you have to feel for it.
10. Remove the third bolt on the bottom.
11. A longer bolt is underneath and holds multiple ground wires (on older FUVs). To get to it you have to pull out the fender and use a quarter inch extension and u-joint on your socket to remove it.
12. Once you get the four bolts out, you have to push up and out of the way the bracket that holds the fuse. Reverse the steps above.
13. Make sure you push the lever back up on the right side reset.
14. Ensure your fuses are seated.. The battery slides out with some wiggling.