Lithium battery fitted -12kg
Discussion
As I have the slightly porkier Legende GT with comfort seats I'm keen to find some weight saving.
Inspired by Justin's very detailed thread on the subject https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=20...
I decided to buy a reassuringly expensive Antigravity battery. They have a drop-in replacement in "group 47" (aka type 027) form factor. 24Ah, 30Ah and 40Ah options are available. I went for the lightest (ahem, cheapest) 24Ah option at 3.9kg. The OE battery is 16.0kg according to my bathroom scales.
Although it has regular battery posts, they are also tapped at M8 and supplied with stainless steel bolts. I liked this option, although I had to open up the holes on the positive cable ends from 6mm to 8mm. It's also a slight faff with the captive nut on the negative cable, but no big deal.
With the foam/foil insulation box reinstated, it looks very much like the OE setup.
I also picked up the same battery monitor as Justin, so I can keep an eye on the voltage and temperature from my phone. I originally attached this to the centre of the front face of the battery, but it fouled the frunk tray just enough so that it wouldn't go back in properly. Now relocated to the bottom left of the front face.
With the OE battery condition monitor deleted, the "check stop/start" message needs to be cleared with a press of the left stalk on startup. Also, the "disable stop/start" button on the centre console has changed from white to red. No other ill effects.
After installation, I drove it once and then parked it for a week.
Cranking voltage drops to 12.0V [good]
After the engine bay fans finished, battery voltage was 13.38V [expected a bigger drop]
A week later, battery voltage was 13.33V [still >90% state of charge]
So this looks pretty good, and glad that I didn't spec a larger capacity. I was also impressed that the car remembered the time - I was expecting to reset the clock.
The nice thing about the Antigravity is that it will disconnect itself if the voltage drops too low. There is a button on top of the battery, and 2 remote keyfob buttons that will restore power with enough charge to start the car.
Inspired by Justin's very detailed thread on the subject https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=20...
I decided to buy a reassuringly expensive Antigravity battery. They have a drop-in replacement in "group 47" (aka type 027) form factor. 24Ah, 30Ah and 40Ah options are available. I went for the lightest (ahem, cheapest) 24Ah option at 3.9kg. The OE battery is 16.0kg according to my bathroom scales.
Although it has regular battery posts, they are also tapped at M8 and supplied with stainless steel bolts. I liked this option, although I had to open up the holes on the positive cable ends from 6mm to 8mm. It's also a slight faff with the captive nut on the negative cable, but no big deal.
With the foam/foil insulation box reinstated, it looks very much like the OE setup.
I also picked up the same battery monitor as Justin, so I can keep an eye on the voltage and temperature from my phone. I originally attached this to the centre of the front face of the battery, but it fouled the frunk tray just enough so that it wouldn't go back in properly. Now relocated to the bottom left of the front face.
With the OE battery condition monitor deleted, the "check stop/start" message needs to be cleared with a press of the left stalk on startup. Also, the "disable stop/start" button on the centre console has changed from white to red. No other ill effects.
After installation, I drove it once and then parked it for a week.
Cranking voltage drops to 12.0V [good]
After the engine bay fans finished, battery voltage was 13.38V [expected a bigger drop]
A week later, battery voltage was 13.33V [still >90% state of charge]
So this looks pretty good, and glad that I didn't spec a larger capacity. I was also impressed that the car remembered the time - I was expecting to reset the clock.
The nice thing about the Antigravity is that it will disconnect itself if the voltage drops too low. There is a button on top of the battery, and 2 remote keyfob buttons that will restore power with enough charge to start the car.
Really interesting post Liam. Thanks for setting this out and (from my point of view at least) pointing out the Antigravity Battery products. After all, what's not to like about a 12kg weight saving for very little change in performance?
What I find fascinating about self contained projects like this is that you can knock off a serious amount of weight at relatively little cost. Presumably Alpine didn't go down this route in the first place because a) they were focused on getting a viable product to market and b) they had to work within very tight production cost limits?
But when you think you can save 12kg by changing the battery, c.9kg by swapping to a good set of coilovers, another c.10kg on a set of forged alloys and probably c.6kg on lighter fully floating brake rotors, that's a A110R power to weight ratio in an A110S but at a fraction of the £30k premium.
What I find fascinating about self contained projects like this is that you can knock off a serious amount of weight at relatively little cost. Presumably Alpine didn't go down this route in the first place because a) they were focused on getting a viable product to market and b) they had to work within very tight production cost limits?
But when you think you can save 12kg by changing the battery, c.9kg by swapping to a good set of coilovers, another c.10kg on a set of forged alloys and probably c.6kg on lighter fully floating brake rotors, that's a A110R power to weight ratio in an A110S but at a fraction of the £30k premium.
glad someone else tried it
I have this setup now for a while,
the yellow spanner icon is a tad annoying.
also when I got an oil change the Renault mechanic could not reset the oil change interval using the stalks he said it might he the stop/start code making the clear oil change menu unavailable. I will reconnect the battery sensor to clear the stop/start and see if I can reset the oil service interval.
anyway I have literally left the car for two months with barely any voltage decline (from the point where the fans stop) now so maybe the people with lead acid batteries that come back to a flat battery are being screwed by stop/start intelligent charging. Perhaps they park with 60% capacity. Or maybe its heat soak reducing lead acid life or maybe its accessing the car over and over which runs the electronics often.
I have no worries now about extended parking and did not even buy a battery tender with a lithium mode, for this new battery.
Also in the same spirit fitted the titanium cat back exhaust from fr metal custom for another hefty weight saving and a rich basso sound with the flapper open to the straight pipe, & the mp-r alloys as well. I think this has gotta be 30kg off the original weight?! Also I started running a lot and have lost 9kg, so now the total weight with driver is 39kg below stock or an extra 10hp for the same fuel use. If anyone needs some running advice just ask.
I have this setup now for a while,
the yellow spanner icon is a tad annoying.
also when I got an oil change the Renault mechanic could not reset the oil change interval using the stalks he said it might he the stop/start code making the clear oil change menu unavailable. I will reconnect the battery sensor to clear the stop/start and see if I can reset the oil service interval.
anyway I have literally left the car for two months with barely any voltage decline (from the point where the fans stop) now so maybe the people with lead acid batteries that come back to a flat battery are being screwed by stop/start intelligent charging. Perhaps they park with 60% capacity. Or maybe its heat soak reducing lead acid life or maybe its accessing the car over and over which runs the electronics often.
I have no worries now about extended parking and did not even buy a battery tender with a lithium mode, for this new battery.
Also in the same spirit fitted the titanium cat back exhaust from fr metal custom for another hefty weight saving and a rich basso sound with the flapper open to the straight pipe, & the mp-r alloys as well. I think this has gotta be 30kg off the original weight?! Also I started running a lot and have lost 9kg, so now the total weight with driver is 39kg below stock or an extra 10hp for the same fuel use. If anyone needs some running advice just ask.
Edited by a110au on Monday 20th November 21:12
Liam22 said:
Do you have that permanently illuminated?
yes however if you do not then I think it is the fact I did not get the oil change tell tale reset when it came due. Will try to reset that today and hopefully it goes away, and is not tied to “check stop/start”. the car was scanned when oil was done and there are no codes apart from check stop/start.
Rob_RCF said:
a110au said:
If anyone needs some running advice just ask.
I know no one asked, but couch to 5k (C25K). It's an app made by the NHS. That got me started.I've had a few months break, need to get back into it. Want to crack a sub 20 min 5k.
TX.
Rob_RCF said:
I know no one asked, but couch to 5k (C25K). It's an app made by the NHS. That got me started.
I've had a few months break, need to get back into it. Want to crack a sub 20 min 5k.
yeah I got a garmin watch which had a bunch of coaching stuff and as I am old, the longer distances are better. it takes me 5k just to warm up! I've had a few months break, need to get back into it. Want to crack a sub 20 min 5k.
done a few parkruns though. fun.
five50 said:
A110AU - can you say a bit more about the cat back. Who is it from? Any other comments about performance etc?
metalcustom.frit has a remote fob for the valve. When the flapper is open the exhaust has a strong basso sound even from idle. Have not caned it so not sure what it will sound like when on it. With the flapper closed it is quiet enough. Not quite as quiet as the stock sports exhaust but close to it I can still drive at steady freeway speed with flapper closed, without any drone. Valve Open, in alpines sports mode with its higher idle, sitting in traffic, it is too loud for my taste (but nothing like a motorbike or coffee can honda) I mounted the fob close to hand so its easy to switch.
I think after making mine they redesigned it to allow a a110r style twin tip to also be sold and fitted. Mine just has two round outlets behind the stock trapezoid outlet.
J321 ALP said:
Life110 sell a Milltek exhaust system, I have just the sports exhaust (needs an alpine sports exhaust as they swap the valve controls over) with twin exhausts like the R 
yeah lots of exhaust options I was mainly after the weight saving plus the ability to switch flapper on or off independent of sports mode is cool too.Edited by J321 ALP on Tuesday 5th December 20:15
J321 ALP said:
Life110 sell a Milltek exhaust system, I have just the sports exhaust (needs an alpine sports exhaust as they swap the valve controls over) with twin exhausts like the R
Had the Milltek put onto my S earlier in the year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcRS-K43Ozc) as well. Sounds good, and has released a few more horses, esp after the TCU re-map, but when they weighed the EOM unit and the Milltek they found that the latter was ever so slightly heavier. By the time the exhaust finisher has been removed you are looking at a net 'no change' to the weight it seems. If you want to save weight when putting a new exhaust on your A110 you need to look at other options.Edited by J321 ALP on Tuesday 5th December 20:15
Liam22 said:
The nice thing about the Antigravity is that it will disconnect itself if the voltage drops too low. There is a button on top of the battery, and 2 remote keyfob buttons that will restore power with enough charge to start the car.
Having had an informal chat with the same manufacturer I'm about to order the same battery + monitor in the next 1-2 weeks. Are you still happy with the set-up Liam? Any issues to report?
While I'm not in the market for one now, my car is now over 5 years old and presumably the current battery won't last that much longer.
What does a new battery from Alpine cost - I know Porsche charge silly money of theirs? An Antigravity battery might not looks so reassuringly expensive when the time comes for a replacement.
What does a new battery from Alpine cost - I know Porsche charge silly money of theirs? An Antigravity battery might not looks so reassuringly expensive when the time comes for a replacement.
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