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AGM (absorbent glass mat) is a sealed lead-acid battery. LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) is the lithium chemistry used by every RV house battery in our price check. Both are sold as "12V 100Ah", and that is where the similarity stops. Here is what the makers publish, side by side.
Published figures, side by side
| Published figure | Renogy AGM 12V 100Ah | Renogy Mini 12.8V 100Ah LiFePO4 | Battle Born 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated capacity | "100Ah (10 Hour Rate to 10.5V)" | "100Ah (0.5C, 25℃)" | "100Ah" |
| Usable share | "recommended not to discharge the battery below 50%" | not published | "Usable Depth of Discharge | 100%" |
| Cycle life | "500 Cycles (50% DOD)" | "5000 Cycles (80% DOD, 80% EOL)" | "3,000-5,000" |
| Weight | "63.9 lbs / 29 kg" | "21.8 lbs / 9.9 kg" | "31 lb" |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Read on renogy.com and battlebornbatteries.com, November 7, 2026.
Price per usable kWh
The price per rated kWh flatters AGM, because half of it is off limits. We divide the price by the usable energy instead: rated Wh x the published usable share, or x 80% when none is published (the depth Renogy uses for its lithium cycle-life figure) [calc].
| Battery | Rated energy | Usable share | Usable energy [calc] | Price | Price per usable kWh [calc] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renogy Deep Cycle AGM 12V 100Ah | 1,200 Wh [calc] | 50% (published) | 600 Wh | $208.99 | $348.32 |
| Renogy Deep Cycle AGM 12V 200Ah | 2,400 Wh [calc] | 50% (published) | 1,200 Wh | $395.99 | $329.99 |
| BougeRV 12V 100Ah Group 24 LiFePO4 | 1,280 Wh | not published (80% used here, see below) | 1,024 Wh | $269.99 | $263.66 |
| Renogy Mini 12.8V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 1,280 Wh [calc] | not published (80% used here, see below) | 1,024 Wh | $307.99 | $300.77 |
| Renogy Mini 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 | 2,560 Wh | not published (80% used here, see below) | 2,048 Wh | $653.99 | $319.33 |
| Battle Born 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 | 1,200 Wh [calc] | 100% (published) | 1,200 Wh | $799 | $665.83 |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
What it means for a van
- Weight is payload. Two AGM batteries of 100Ah weigh 127.8 lbs [calc: 2 x 63.9] for about 1,200 usable Wh; one Renogy 200Ah Mini LiFePO4 rated 2,560 Wh holds about 2,048 usable Wh at 80% [calc].
- Cycles add up. 500 cycles is under a year and a half of daily use [calc: 500 / 365]; the LiFePO4 figures run to thousands, under their own test conditions.
- AGM still has a place for occasional use, when the budget is tight up front, or in a cold climate where you cannot add a heated lithium battery.
Every battery we read, with prices: RV lithium battery comparison. Your own size: power budget.
Changing chemistry is a system change. Going from AGM to lithium changes charge voltages, and often the cables and fuses that a higher current needs. Have the swap done or checked by a qualified installer, following the battery and charger manuals and, for RVs, NFPA 1192.
Frequently asked questions
Is lithium worth it over AGM in an RV?
On the figures we read, an AGM is cheaper to buy but gives half its rated capacity as usable energy (Renogy: do not discharge below 50%), weighs about three times more for the same Ah (63.9 lbs against 21.8 lbs for Renogy's 100Ah AGM and Mini LiFePO4), and is rated for 500 cycles at 50% depth against 5,000 at 80% for Renogy's LiFePO4. Per usable kWh, the gap shrinks or reverses; see the table.
Can I charge lithium with my AGM charger?
Not always. LiFePO4 pages publish their own charge voltages (BougeRV 14.4 to 14.6 V, Battle Born 14.2 to 14.6 V). Check that your converter, solar controller and DC-DC charger have a lithium profile; the battery manual has the settings.
Can lithium batteries be charged in the cold?
The BougeRV and Renogy pages we read list a charge range starting at 32°F (0°C). Below that you need a battery with self-heating or low-temperature protection, which several makers sell as separate models.