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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
12 12.5 13 13.5 14 14.5 15 15.5 16
Voltage
Gel 13.2 – 14.1
Optima (13.2 – 15.6)
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04) and GEP technical manual
Recharging Gel by 0.7 volts aboveRecommended voltage reduces life By 60%
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.
Power Density
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
5 10 15 20 30 60
Time (minutes)
Am
per
es
Optima Gel
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04)
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
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Optima Gel
Nu
mb
er o
f C
ycle
s
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04)
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
GASPRESSURE
GASPRESSURE
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
12 12.5 13 13.5 14 14.5 15 15.5 16
Voltage
Flat-plate AGM 13.2 – 14.7
Optima (13.2 – 15.6)
Source: EPM technical manual (form 0139 3/04) and GEP technical manual
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)
0
50
100
150
200
250
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
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150
Number of Cycles
Ru
nti
me
Min
ute
s (2
5A d
isch
arg
e)
Flat-plate AGM
Optima
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.
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Brand A
Brand B
Brand C
OPTIMA
Hours of Testing
Flat-Plate AGM
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.
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