WARNING - Ballistic Evo 2 battery users

[steveoexige]

Thought you should all know that if you have replaced your oem battery with a super light weight Ballistic Evo 2 battery you could get more than you bargained for.

[steveoexige]

I'd had it fitted by my garage and checked all the terminals and after 3 days of use it caught fire (!) Luckily I was just parking up and notice the smoke coming out of the wheel arch. Naturally I pulled over and fortunately I had with me a litre of mineral water I was drinking. I put the flames out and couldn't believe the state of the battery.
I've emailed Ballistic and their reply was you shouldn't have been using our battery in your car and the fault occurred because of this. Kind of annoying when their are forum sponsors on here that sell the battery.

[Ammonia]

Originally Posted by steveoexige

I've emailed Ballistic and their reply was you shouldn't have been using our battery in your car and the fault occurred because of this.

I'm confused, if this isn't for a car, wtf is it for? Tender nipples?

[stugray]

Originally Posted by Ammonia

I'm confused, if this isn't for a car, wtf is it for? Tender nipples?

Ummm... for motorcycles maybe?

Direct from their website:
"We do not recommend EVO batteries for any street car applications do to the potential for large parasitic draw which could discharge the battery quickly."

ANd to the OP - WHY is the smoke coming from the left side and not the OEM location for the battery?
Even on the RHD cars, I thought the battery was on the right.

[steveoexige]

The battery in the UK is in the top right as you lift the bonnet and look (where the smoke is).

I'm really disappointed with the manufacturer over this. I appreciate that don't recommend the battery for use with a car but that has little reason for it catching fire. It was obviously a faulty battery because the installation was spot on.

[stugray]

yeah my first guess is faulty battery or it was damaged.

I dont know as much about this chemistry, but a LiIon battery would definitely catch fire if overcharged.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by steveoexige

I'm really disappointed with the manufacturer over this. I appreciate that don't recommend the battery for use with a car but that has little reason for it catching fire. It was obviously a faulty battery because the installation was spot on.

Ummm What part of "We do not recommend EVO batteries for any street car applications do to the potential for large parasitic draw which could discharge the battery quickly." is unclear?
They likely have this warning for this very possibility! These batteries are made for bikes or race cars that do not need to run lights, radio, heaters, etc, etc. They can not take the heavier draw as they so very clearly state in the caution. Surprised your service station would even install it without reading the documentation that must have come with it and saying "wait a sec"

[JDKane527]

I've been running one for about 2 months, and balance charge it regularly. @steveoexige, did you balance charge it on first use? How hot have your ambient Temps been? I see you have forced induction so that would make the engine bay temps high, potentially putting the battery out of its normal operating range. I'll be sure to keep an eye on mine.

[Lonewolf]

Now that is scary! Good thing you put it out quickly!

[Miniata]

Pretty much most, if not all, of the lithium batteries that people are using in cars are labeled for either race use only or not for use in cars, in either case, no warranty for use in a vehicle. I've used a 1.5 lb lithium Shorai battery myself in a car before, but would never consider trying to get any warranty help if there was a problem, and I used it in my car at my own risk. Anyone selling these types of batteries for use in a car should make it clear that there are risks involved.

[Shady195]

I'm with tCoat.

It's a lifepo battery, you pushed it beyond its limits and it looks like it went into Thermal runaway.

The fault here is on you, not the battery manufacturer.

[extrashaky]

So I could understand if this was a stripped down car built for racing, where weight reduction was more of a consideration than the ability to drive optional electrical components. But why in the world would anybody put this on a street car?

[stugray]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

These batteries are made for bikes or race cars that do not need to run lights, radio, heaters, etc, etc. They can not take the heavier draw as they so very clearly state in the caution.

Actually when the car is running, the battery takes very little load.
The alternator is handling all of the load and putting current into the battery.

SO normal operation of a good running car should be fine for one of these batteries.
However, if you sit for long with the accessories on and the engine not running, OR if your alternator dies, then you are putting a HUGE burden on the battery.

That is why the OEM battery is so big in the first place.

[JDKane527]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

So I could understand if this was a stripped down car built for racing, where weight reduction was more of a consideration than the ability to drive optional electrical components. But why in the world would anybody put this on a street car?

The ballistic battery has 480 cranking amps, significantly more than the stock battery, rated for 270 cranking amps. The main benefit is to drop 25lbs from the front of the car.