Battery technology has changed dramatically in the last few years, and honestly, most of the advice you'll find online is already outdated. If you're reading forum posts or watching YouTube videos from even 2-3 years ago, the battery recommendations are going to steer you wrong.
Get LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries from a reputable budget brand like Eco-Worthy. There's no good reason to choose anything else in 2025.
A few years ago, LiFePO4 batteries cost $800-1,200 per 100Ah — 4x the price of AGM. That made it a real debate. Not anymore.
LiFePO4 now costs about the same as AGM — and gives you nearly 2x the usable capacity.
Chinese manufacturers flooded the market with quality LiFePO4 batteries using the same EVE and CATL cells as premium brands. A 280Ah LiFePO4 battery now costs $330-400 — the math is overwhelmingly in favor of lithium.
There are several lithium chemistries. Here's why LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) is the right choice for vans:
Okay, you're convinced on LiFePO4. How much capacity do you actually need?
Here's my reasoning for treating 280Ah as a baseline for anyone planning to use their van regularly or full-time:
You're talking about $50-100 more for 40% more capacity (depending on sales)
Remember from the power section - your 400W solar might only generate 800Wh per day in winter. If you're consuming 1,500Wh per day, you're running a 700Wh deficit.
That extra day or two of buffer means you can wait out a storm or a stretch of cloudy days without stressing about your battery level. You're not forced to drive somewhere just to charge up.
When you first build your van, you might not have a fridge, or Starlink, or a diesel heater. But later you might add these. If you sized your battery for your initial usage, you're now undersized.
With 280Ah, you have room to add devices without immediately needing to upgrade your battery.
280Ah batteries come as a single unit - you're not wiring multiple batteries together. Installation is the same as a 200Ah battery. Same physical mounting, same wiring complexity. Only ~20 lbs heavier (~70 lbs vs ~50 lbs).
If you were choosing between 200Ah and 600Ah (two 300Ah batteries), that's a different conversation about weight and cost. But 200 vs 280? Just get the 280.
Absolutely. Some people run 400Ah, 600Ah, or even more. This makes sense if:
But for most people, 280-300Ah is the sweet spot. Beyond that, you're adding weight, cost, and complexity that might not actually improve your experience that much.
One 280Ah 12V battery vs. two 140Ah 12V batteries in parallel vs. 24V systems - this gets into the weeds, but here's the simple answer:
Why:
24V systems make sense if you're running high-power inverters (3000W+) or very large battery banks (800Ah+), but that's not most people. Stick with 12V and keep it simple.
Parallel batteries (connecting multiple 12V batteries together) can work fine, but now you have more connection points, batteries that can drift out of balance, and more complex installation. If you need more than 300Ah, sure, run two batteries in parallel. But if 280Ah will work, just get one battery and keep your life simple.
"Should I spend $1,200 on a Battle Born battery instead of $400 on an Eco-Worthy?" Here's the reality: budget brands use the same or similar cells, just without the markup.
Worth it for $100k+ professional builds. Overkill for DIY.
The sweet spot for DIY van builds.
When shopping for your 280Ah LiFePO4 battery, look for:
LiFePO4 batteries are pretty simple to install, but a few tips:
These batteries are heavy (70 lbs). Use proper mounting brackets or a battery box. You don't want it sliding around or tipping over.
LiFePO4 batteries don't off-gas like lead-acid, but they still can generate some heat. Don't seal them in an unventilated box.
Put a fuse or circuit breaker on the positive terminal. Size it for your max expected draw (maybe 200A for most systems). This is critical for safety.
Use thick wire (probably 2AWG or bigger) for the main battery connections. Don't cheap out here.
Install a battery monitor (like a Victron SmartShunt, $150) so you can track exactly how much power is going in and out. Bluetooth monitoring built into the battery is good, but a separate shunt is better.
Don't bury your battery under your bed platform. You might need to access it for troubleshooting or to disconnect it.
Get an Eco-Worthy 280Ah LiFePO4 battery (~$400). It has Bluetooth monitoring, a built-in BMS, and uses the same cells as batteries costing 3-4x more.
Skip Battle Born and other premium brands unless you're building a $100k+ professional van. For a DIY build, save the $500-800 and spend it on solar panels or just... camping.
This will give you 3,584Wh of capacity that will last 10+ years. Five years ago, this same capacity would have cost $3,000-4,000 and weighed three times as much.