Choosing the right battery for your marine needs is crucial for ensuring reliable performance, longevity, and safety while out on the water. Lithium marine batteries are known for their superior efficiency, lightweight design, and fast charging capabilities. They are an excellent choice for powering boats and marine equipment. Purchasing these advanced batteries from a highly experienced lithium battery company can provide significant benefits, including expert knowledge, customized solutions, and top tier customer support. However, there is a wide array of marine battery brands on the market, and research consistently demonstrates that having more choices often leads to fewer decisions being made, a phenomenon known as the "paradox of choice." Below we explore the top factors to consider when it comes to selecting a marine lithium battery brand to help you make the best long-term investment.
1. Research Brand Experience & Financial Stability
When considering a marine lithium battery brand, the experience of the company is paramount. RELiON’s manufacturing and engineering teams have developed their lithium battery expertise over the past several decades and have a proven track record with distribution networks located on almost every continent. The company also continues to only invest in people with the requisite expertise, relationships and training to ensure customers’ success.
The financial security and robust operations of a company are also important to consider. RELiON is part of Navico Group, which has many leading brands like Lowrance and Simrad. Navico Group is also part of Brunswick, a major player in the marine industry, who has helped take RELiON’s reliability to the next level. Customers can rest easy knowing that the company not only has strong financial backing but will be there to support them and their systems, should the need arise, in the years to come.
2. Assess Quality Through Certifications & Infrastructure
It’s also important to consider what certifications and company infrastructure the brand has, as these often indicate the level of quality the brand’s products will deliver. For example, RELiON has an ISO 9001:20015 certified factory, as well as a dedicated testing and R&D facility, to ensure the highest quality lithium batteries. The company’s engineering teams in Europe and the U.S. work closely with its manufacturing facilities to ensure top tier products that are helping to meet the global demand for interconnected energy storage technologies — from electric vehicles to off-grid power. In fact, its engineering team in the Netherlands supports Mastervolt, a leading European lithium battery company that was founded over 20 years ago. In addition to decades of field experience, RELiON’s expert engineering team has also developed the ability to support original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with integrating RELiON batteries into their own products, including through the creation of custom batteries.
3. Research Brand Reputation
Brand reputation is a critical factor in ensuring you receive a reliable and safe product. You should always look into a company’s:
- Reviews and Ratings: Look for unbiased public reviews and ratings from other customers, particularly experts in their field, such as pro anglers and full-time sailors. Some examples of stellar reviews include:
“Their customer service is top-notch and their batteries have been proven time and again to be very reliable and long-lasting. I know a lot of professional anglers that have made the switch to RELiON batteries.” - Matt Arey, Bassmaster Elite Pro Angler
“I had only ever heard great things about RELiON batteries and the company’s customer service. One friend of mine in particular, who is also part of the Bassmaster Elite Series, raved about these batteries constantly. I was definitely sold on RELiON after seeing just how reliable they were for so many of my colleagues. So far, my RELiON batteries charge much faster than my lead-acid batteries ever could and I’ve never had a problem with them running out of juice.” - Jake Whitaker, Bassmaster Elite Pro Angler
- Warranty and Customer Support: A good brand will offer a robust warranty and reliable customer support. This indicates their confidence in the product and commitment to customer satisfaction. Many marine lithium battery companies will make bold claims through their marketing efforts, but will not be able to back up these claims with their warranties. You should always thoroughly review the warranties that the company provides to assess factors like the total warranty period. RELiON’s lithium batteries, for example, are warranted for 10 years. Each battery manufacturer should also be able to specify whether they offer a free repair or replacement period within their warranties.
Additionally, it is highly recommended that you review the level of customer support a company offers before purchasing to determine how easy or difficult it is to access information online when you have questions. RELiON offers a Knowledge Help Center with a wide variety of topics in the form of articles, FAQs, and videos to help you become more comfortable with converting to lithium and maintaining your investment.
4. Find Brands That Offer Superior Battery Chemistries
It is of utmost importance that you be able to distinguish between lithium battery chemistries, as this directly impacts the longevity and safety of your battery. As a primer, lithium battery chemistries can be categorized into non-cobalt based batteries and cobalt-based batteries. Examples of cobalt-based batteries include:
- Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)
- Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO)
- Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA)
The safest and most environmentally benign lithium battery chemistries, however, are non-cobalt based, such as Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4). The oxygen and the phosphorus atoms in LFP batteries are strongly linked by covalent bonding, unlike the weaker cobalt-oxide bond found in cobalt-based lithium batteries. This is advantageous because the phosphate-oxide bond offers enhanced stability. Unlike cobalt-based batteries, LFP batteries are not prone to thermal runaway or fire. Due to their optimal chemistry, LFP batteries are also able to be installed in more space-restricted compartments as well as on their sides. RELiON exclusively offers lithium batteries that use lithium iron phosphate chemistry for these reasons.
5. Assess Environmental Impact
Sustainability is an increasingly important factor for consumers when selecting a battery brand, as their choices have a direct impact on the health of our planet. In fact, a McKinsey & Co. survey found that 66 percent of respondents said they consider sustainability when making a purchase. Not only does RELiON financially support environmental non-profits, its parent and affiliate companies also invest heavily in sustainability initiatives. Navico Group, for example, invests in electrification, the circular economy and conservation efforts. Additionally, Brunswick was named to Newsweek’s 2024 List of America’s Greenest Companies and founded the All Blue Planet initiative, which is focused on preserving and providing access to water.
Choosing the right marine lithium battery brand involves a careful evaluation of brand reputation, experience and financial stability, battery chemistry, safety standards and environmental impact. By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision and select a lithium battery brand that meets your requirements and provides reliable, safe, and efficient power for your devices and applications. If you have any questions about which lithium battery brand is right for you, get in touch with an expert at RELiON.