Another possibility: You could replace the Optimas with a Concorde AGM
battery that is essentially the same size, but has a slightly higher
capacity. For example, the Concorde AGM-1280T
<http://www.concordebattery.com/products/deep_eleclspeifications.cfm>:
20hr min@ wt
type volts rate 25a lbs L W H
---- --- ---- ---- -- ----- ---- ----
Optima 12v 65ah 120 44 10" 6.9" 7.9"
AGM-1280T 12v 80ah 149 56 10.2" 6.6" 8.9"
I have Concordes in my EV. They have a slightly higher internal
resistance and higher Peukert exponent, so they are not as good as
Optimas at supplying high currents. But, they deliver more amphours if
you can drive at lower currents.
Tolerances being what they are, the extra 0.2" of length would probably
squeeze in. The largest part of mine are a step at the bottom for a
hold-down, which could be cut off to get back to 10" even.
I don't know if the extra 1" of height would fit or not. Of course, this
extra inch of height is where the extra amphour capacity and extra
weight are coming from.
--
Lee A. Hart Ring the bells that still can ring
814 8th Ave. N. Forget your perfect offering
Sartell, MN 56377 USA There is a crack in everything
leeahart_at_earthlink.net That's how the light gets in - Leonard Cohen
