Selling Against Gel Technology
•
Optima AGM has a wider operating temperature range than Gel.
– High temperatures impact Gel’s life and performance more than AGM.
•
Charging is significantly different between technologies.
– You cannot install Gel into under-hood applications.
– You cannot charge Gel with standard chargers.
•
Gel technology has poor power density when compared to Optima.
– Gel performs poorly at aggressive discharge rates.
•
Gel does not have a significant cycling advantage against Optima.
– Gel out-performs Flooded designs.
Selling Against Gel Technology
•
Charging and Operating Temperature Ranges:
– Gel technology can tolerate temperature ranges of -20°C - +30°C (when fully charged.
• Although +30°C is the high side of the temperature range, charge voltage must be within the
proper range (temperature correction critical).
– Optima’s advanced AGM technology is slightly better.
• -40°C - +40°C (when fully charged).
Charging Range
Optima (13.2 – 15.6)
Gel 13.2 – 14.1
12
12.5
13
13.5
14
Recharging Gel by 0.7 volts above
Recommended voltage reduces life
By 60%
14.5
Voltage
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04) and GEP technical manual
15
15.5
16
Selling Against Gel Technology
•
Gel’s higher resistance and flooded flat-plate technology suffers poor performance
at high discharge rates.
– Gel batteries have lower power density than Optima.
Pow er Density
600
Optima
500
Gel
Amperes
400
300
200
100
0
5
10
15
20
Tim e (m inutes)
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04)
30
60
Comparison: G34 vs G24
Selling Against Gel Technology
•
Gel technologies claim to fame is cycle-life.
– Having 3 X cycles compared to Flooded Gel has a clear advantage.
– Gel is less advantaged against Optima.
Cycle Life
600
Number of Cycles
500
400
300
200
100
0
Optima
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04)
Gel
Selling Against Flat-plate AGM technology
•
Flat-plate AGM is more resilient than Gel.
– Suffers from similar design complications.
•
Flat-plate AGM can maximize cube volume but lack surface area.
– “Spiral cell” designs have more plate surface yielding higher power density.
•
Flat-plate AGM doesn’t cycle as well as “Spiral cell” designs.
– Still better than Flooded.
– Lead-Calcium grids are disadvantaged.
•
Flat-plate designs do not hold up to vibration as well as Optima.
Selling Against Flat-plate AGM Technology
•
Cylindrical cell design eliminates cell
bulge.
– Eliminates cell expansion.
– Retains cell compression.
•
High vent valve pressures increase life
and provide wide recharge voltage
ranges.
– Vent @ up to 8 PSI and reseal @ up
to 4 PSI (Flat-plate vent @ 1 PSI)
– High release pressure permits
higher recharge voltages.
• Use of boost chargers is
allowed (15.6).
• Flat-plate designs cannot
tolerate voltage above 14.7
GAS
PRESSURE
GAS
PRESSURE
Selling Against Flat-plate AGM Technology
•
Charging and Operating Temperature Ranges:
– Flat-plate AGM and Optima’s advanced AGM technology have similar ranges.
• -40°C - +40°C (when fully charged)
Charging Range
Optima (13.2 – 15.6)
Flat-plate AGM 13.2 – 14.7
12
12.5
13
13.5
14
14.5
Voltage
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04) and GEP technical manual
15
15.5
16
Selling Against Flat-plate AGM Technology
•
Flat-plate claims to have more active material due to cube cell design.
•
Optima’s “Spiral Cell” has more plate surface area.
Surface Area (sq in)
250
200
150
100
50
0
Optima
Flat-plate AGM
Selling Against Flat-plate AGM Technology
•
Higher density active-material withstands the eroding effects of cycling.
– During cycling, Optima provides more energy throughout life.
Repetitive Cycling Capacity @ 100% DOD
250
Flat-plate AGM
Runtime Minutes (25A discharge)
200
150
100
Optima
50
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Num ber of Cycles
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
Selling Against Flat-plate AGM Technology
•
Optima’s “spiral cell” technology has significantly higher compression than flat-plate.
– Higher compression holds all internal components in-place.
– Under typical automotive vibration testing (5 G, multi-axis) Optima technology lasts 15 X
longer than flat-plate construction.
OPTIMA
Brand C
Flat-Plate AGM
Brand B
Brand A
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Hours of Testing
7000
8000
9000
10000
Selecting the Correct Application for Optima
•
Optima’s advanced AGM technology fits many applications but it is not always the best
choice.
– Examples where Optima isn’t the best solution:
• Applications that require low current discharges for long periods of time.
– Optima can be of value if cycle life is important.
• Stationary Applications where flame-retardant poly is required.
– Optima’s poly does not pass UL94 –V0 requirements.
• Situations where the battery must sit discharged for extended periods of time.
– Heavily sulfated batteries can be recovered but it is not recommended for
general consumers.
•
Applications that require large strings of batteries.
– Optima has proven successful in these applications.
• Battery management systems that limit DOD and control charge current/voltage
are critically important.
– Hybrid, pure Electric vehicle applications fall within this category.