How Much Do Gel and LiFePO4 Batteries of the Same Size Differ in Weight and Cycle Life?
Summary
Among Victron's own products, by more than three times in weight and five to seven times in cycle count. The 12 V GEL Deep Cycle 110 Ah weighs 33 kg; the Lithium NG 12.8 V/100 Ah is listed at about 9 kg. Cycled to 50% depth, the gel battery is rated for 750 cycles and the LiFePO4 for 5,000.
The two datasheets side by side
| GEL Deep Cycle 12 V/110 Ah | Lithium NG 12.8 V/100 Ah | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal energy | about 1,320 Wh (20-hour rate) | 1,280 Wh |
| Weight | 33 kg | about 9 kg |
| Cycles at 80% depth | 500 | 2,500 |
| Cycles at 50% depth | 750 | 5,000 |
| Charge current | preferably no more than 0.2C (20 A per 100 Ah) | 100 A continuous (1C) |
| Absorption voltage | 14.1 to 14.4 V | 14.0 to 14.2 V |
| Float voltage | 13.5 to 13.8 V | 13.5 V |
| Self-discharge | under 2% a month at 20°C | 3% a month or less at 25°C |
The gel capacity is for a 20-hour discharge; drained in one hour, the battery delivers 61% of it. The LiFePO4 cycle counts run until capacity falls to 80% of nominal.
Total energy over the battery's life
Multiplying the datasheet figures: the 110 Ah gel battery cycled to 50% (about 660 Wh a cycle) for 750 cycles moves about 495 kWh in total. The 100 Ah LiFePO4 cycled to 80% (about 1,024 Wh) for 2,500 cycles moves about 2,560 kWh, roughly five times as much.
In its guide to RV electrical systems, Victron recommends discharging lead-acid batteries only to about 50% state of charge and not regularly taking lithium below 20%. Gel batteries also carry a float design life, the years they last kept on charge: 12 years at 20°C and 6 at 30°C.
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Sources
- Victron Energy — GEL and AGM Batteries datasheet
- Victron Energy — Lithium NG 12,8 V manual, Technical data
- Victron Energy — Understanding the Components of Your RV Electrical System (2026-09-03)
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