Could Lithium Ion Batteries Be The Answer For Extended Motorhome Usage?
As any motorhome owner already knows, balancing the usage of various appliances to maximize battery life can be quite a chore. For example, under normal conditions my 2014 Marathon Prevost motorhome can operate two air conditioners, a TV, satellite receiver, lights and an occasional kitchen appliance for around two hours before the generator automatically activates to restore the charge levels. But if I add a third A/C or decide to use the washer/dryer, surely I’ll hear the hum of the generator kicking-in sooner. 
However, this is truly not that much of an inconvenience for my type of usage. When my bus is not connected to shore power and is parked in a dry camping situation, since my generator is positioned towards the front of the coach and concealed behind a highly insulated hush box, things remain relatively quiet both inside and outside the coach. For others who utilize national parks and other dry camping locations that have quiet time rules that include generator usage restrictions, depending on the weather conditions, the passengers may be a bit uncomfortable sleeping through an evening without the air conditioned comforts of home.
Liberty Coach was the first Prevost converter to jump on the Lithium Ion bandwagon…
There’s also the issue of sheer size and weight of batteries and the onboard storage space required. Like anything else, motorhomes have limits on how much weight can safely be carried and it’s best not to exceed manufacturers specifications. Since lithium ion batteries weigh around one-sixth of its lead acid battery counterparts, additional batteries can be carried in the same space and deliver longer run times while lessening the overall weight.
As you’ll see in this interview, Liberty Coach was the first Prevost converter to jump on the Lithium Ion bandwagon and began incorporating Volta’s power system and related components beginning with its 2017 model year Prevost motorhomes. They chose to achieve a balance of providing more power than what’s available with lead acid batteries while lowering the weight and increasing storage space.
At the recent Prevost Motorhome Expo, I had the opportunity to interview Jack Johnson, the Director of Operations for Volta Power Systems and he explained the basics of operation and how lithium ion technology could be the future for motorhomes.
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