Kia New Zealand reveals pricing for all-new ute
Just when you thought there wasn’t enough choices for a ute, Kia New Zealand has announced pricing for one of the most eagerly anticipated new model launches of 2025.
While this is a new product category for Projecta, the company has extensive lithium iron phosphate know-how through products such as jump starters and work lights, where similar technology is applied.
The range’s LiFePO₄ chemistry is the safest lithium technology available and makes the new Projecta batteries inherently much safer than lithium cobalt competitors, a performance measure that was proven during in-house testing.
Said to be inherently safer than other lithium cobalt configurations, Projecta’s lithium batteries also feature a builtin battery management system, which offers protection in the event of under/overvoltage and over/underheating, alongside monitoring individual cell voltages and balancing when required.
Another key benefit of the Projecta lithium battery range is its longevity. It can deliver over 2000 cycles, up to eight times more than lead acid batteries. An extended life offsets the initial higher cost of a lithium battery, as well as reducing waste.
Offered in two models, the LB100 delivers a true 100- amp discharge current, capable of powering 1000W inverters as well as a fridge and is equivalent to a 160Ah lead acid battery. Users needing greater power can select the high discharge LB100-BT, which delivers an impressive 150-amp discharge current, capable of powering 2000W inverters.
The LB100-BT allows owners to monitor the battery status via smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth, with information including voltage, current, state of charge and any alarms that may have occurred.
Both batteries are housed within traditional N70 casings allowing easy fitment within engine bays, with the benefit of only weighing around one third the weight of equivalent lead acid batteries.
