When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The scary thing about lithium is that they can fail spectacularly even when the vehicle isn’t operating.
I have also seen lead acid batteries explode from over charging. I have also known of a battery that shorted internally after a ride and it started smoking. We saw it and were able to get the battery out before it exploded and caught fire. But that was 30+ years ago.
How is it that the motorcycle charging system is ok for all types of batteries, but you need a special charger for AGM, and a special charger for Lithium?
Because vehicle charging systems are simply feeding a typical 14.2~14.5volts into the battery to charge it directly.
It is effectively a non specific charging system that just provides voltage to the battery to charge it back up.
The reason why charrgers specifically cause an issue is because they are programmed to charge in different phases based on what the charger is detecting. For example SLA/LeadAcid chargers go through a desulfation process when they charge, this phase is what can kill or damage a lithium cell.
Also some Lithium batteries are made of Lithium Iron Phosphate (4) chemistry (LiFePO4) instead of a "Li-Ion" like Nickle Manganese Cobalt chemistry. LiFePO4 is a chemistry that can almost directly replicate the characteristics of an SLA battery in charging, but without the desulfation charge.
This means any SLA standard charger that does not desulfate should charge a LiFe cell with no problem.
Because vehicles supply essentially an essentially adhoc constant stream of voltage/amps, it rarely causes a problem with LiFePO4 cell charging.
yes, they do. but they did put out a bulletin not recommending the lithium for the 23.5 cvo and 24+ models. has something to do with the electronics and how particular they are.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
