Optima Group 31 Update

[John Wayland <dat1200@EUROPA.COM>]

Hello to All,
     No, they aren't  ready to ship yet, but things are getting closer
to that reality, and prototypes should be ready soon. As I write this, I
have an  empty 'dummy' Optima group 31 battery next me, and thought I
would report on its charactoristics, for those of you who might be
thinking of using a set of these.
     The first thing that overwhelms you, is how beautiful this new
battery is...I mean it is gorgeous! It still has a yellow top and a
light grey case, but now  measures 
6 and 7/8 inches wide, by 13 inches long, and is 8 and 3/4 inches to the
top of the case, and 9 and 1/2 inches to the tops of the 5/8 inch style
stud terminals.
       It has the traditional Optima spiral cell look, but with several
new twists:

(1) Unlike the RedTop/YellowTop group 34 and the Baby Optima, where
these batteries are essentially three cells in a row right next to
another three cells in a row, like this:

							OOO 
							OOO

The group 31 battery has the pair of triple cells next to each other,
but they are staggered, so that the curves of one cell fill in the
valley of the adjacent pair of cells, like this:

    							OOO
						       OOO

    By doing it this way, even though the cells are bigger in diameter
than those of the group 34 RedTop/YellowTop series, the footprint of
this bigger battery is actually 1/8 inch narrower than the smaller group
34! That's close enough though, so that if one had, say 6 of the group
34 RedTop/YellowTops in a row in a battery box, you could remove them
and plunk in 4 of these new guys in the same container! 

(2) The top is 2 inches thick, with about 1/2 inch of it being yellow
and the rest being the same grey color as the main body.

(3) The top is uniquely shaped, in that it is a rectangle with two
diagonally opposing corners being the same sized arc as the cells, and
the other pair of diagonally opposing corners being much smaller arcs.

(4) The top is completely flat, with only the studs protuding up, as the
two vents are recessed and flush-fitting....it looks so modern and cool!

(5) Because of the staggered cell arrangement, there is an overhanging
ledge at two of the diagonally opposing corners (the ones that have the
smaller arc) where there isn't a cell directly under the top....they
make great handles!

     What surprised me with this dummy battery, is that it sports the
factory sticker that I assume will be on the production units, and  the
specs look good....here's how the label looks:

    It is the same rectangle shape as the labels found on the smaller
Optimas and it is also divided into thirds with the center section being
yellow and the outer two sections being grey, again, just like the other
labels, only this label is larger. The most striking thing that hits you
between the eyes though, is the center section that reads in  3/4 of an
inch high print "1400 Cranking Amps"! Under that it reads 1100 C.C.A. 
Optima's standard YellowTop is rated at 900 Cranking Amps, and 750
C.C.A., although only the C.C.A. rating is shown. Optima's RedTop and
the marine style BlueTop starting batteries are a bit better, with 800
C.C.A. and 1000 Cranking Amps, and since marine batteries aren't rated
for C.C.A., the BlueTop starting battery has a bold "1000 Cranking Amps"
on its label.
    Another neat thing on the group 34 label, is in the left side grey
section where it clearly labels the battery as a 'Heavy Duty Dual
Purpose Starting & Deep Cycle Power Source'. As most on the List know,
conventional deep cycle wet cell type batteries aren't recommended for
use as starting batteries, and with their thicker plates they usually
have considerably less Cranking Amps and C.C.A.'s available than a
comparably-sized starting battery.  Optimas are very different in this
area, as witnessed in the fact the  standard YellowTop deep cycle
battery loses only 50 C.C.A.'s  to the RedTop, making it a deep cycle
battery that also excells in starting applications, too. So, I am
pleased that with this new product, Optima is pointing out this quality.
    The other right side grey section reads '100 ahr, 190 minutes
reserve'. This is its 20 hr rating, so it is reasonable to assume that
the 2 hr. rating will be around 75-80 ahrs....the standard YT is rated
at 52 ahrs. @ 2 hr. rate. 
     The last time I spoke with Optima, they were estimating that these
new batteries would weigh around 72 lbs. each. 
      This bigger Optima will fill a nice void for us EVers. Those with
smaller cars who don't want the weight of a double string of standard
YTs, but need more range then a single string can provide, will find
these to be right in the middle.....in example:

   To get 144 volts worth of power, a single string of standard YTs
weight 540 lbs.....not a lot of lead, making for just OK range in a
small and light car or truck. A double string brings up the weight to
almost 1100 lbs., which may be too much for some smaller cars, and take
up too much space. Hower, a single string of the group 34's would weigh
in at 864 lbs.....just about perfect!   A set of 16 standard YTs  weigh
in at 720 lbs., and make for a real nice combination of 35-45 mile range
and great performance for small cars, but this pack is too small to give
the same range in heavier and larger EVs. Conversely, a set of 16  of
the bigger group 31s at 192 volts would weigh 1152 lbs., too heavy for
most small cars, but just about perfect for mid-size S10, Ranger,
Toyota, Nissan trucks.
        I haven't been able to nail down a price on these new batteries
as of yet, but as soon as I know, I'll report back. I will also be
tesing a set of the first batch of these new, bigger Optimas as soon as
they are ready, and will report back on how they perform.

See Ya.......John