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.