Product Spotlight
Voltphreaks
Ultra-lightweight racing batteryAs I tried to lift a dead battery from the wife's Eurovan, I got the distinct impression it was still attached to something. The damn thing wouldn't budge. Then I realized it weighed close to 50 pounds.
Though the Eurovan is far from a performance car, even most sports car batteries weigh in excess of 40 pounds and are normally placed at a far end of the vehicle. Regardless of horsepower, that's a big lump for any vehicle to carry.
The easiest and most effective way to increase performance is to reduce weight. While manufacturers have made great advances with lightweight composite materials, battery technology still requires lead cell architecture, acid and considerable size. Until now.
Most radio control enthusiasts already know about lithium-ion batteries, or "lipos." Lipo batteries have allowed electric-powered RC aircraft to overtake the performance of their nitro-methane-powered counterparts. Want proof? Try 345 mph achieved by a lipo-powered hotliner.
Incredibly small and resilient, lipos are capable of holding massive amounts of energy. Although more expensive, they come at a price the RC community is more than willing to pay.
The folks at Voltphreaks have brought lithium polymer to the automotive scene with impressive results. Imagine starting your car with a 4-pound battery. We didn't believe it either until we hooked this little gem to our long-term Passat. It started once, twice, half a dozen times. And as the stock battery left the trunk, the entire rear half of the car lifted, like an Olympic weightlifter dropping a stack of iron.
The Voltphreaks lithium battery can be mounted anywhere and in any orientation-it doesn't care. For extreme or vibration-intensive use, Voltphreaks has Sorbothane isolation mounts and heavy-duty 4-gauge extension cables. But it's so light you could mount it with Velcro. Its casing is totally impenetrable, comprised of heavy-gauge plastic and carbon fiber. The posts are covered in highly conductive gold plate.
The Voltphreaks battery is designed for race-type use, situations where the engine will be started and left running so the alternator can recharge the battery. We're thinking a new Lotus Elise or GTI during a track session. And yes, you could drive it home, no problem.
While it contains enough cranking amps to turn most starter motors, big stereo systems, auxiliary lighting and so on will overwhelm its capacity. But if you're goal is ultimate performance, you won't be worried about how your stereo's bass sounds. Getting through that next chicane is more important. -Les Bidrawn
*Specifications
Nominal voltage: 12.8V
Cranking amps (CA): 550 amps
Cold cranking amps (CCA): 300 amps
Reserve capacity (RC): 22 minutes
Capacity: 12Ah
Terminal type: 5/16-in. gold-plated ring
Working temp.: -22 to 140 F (185 F max)
Dimensions (in.): 8.3/5.0/3.0 (not including terminals/flanges)
Weight: 4.25 pounds
Voltphreaks 866.246.8498
www.voltphreaks.com