Anyone else finding LiFePO4 prices have properly bottomed out lately?

Picked up a 200Ah Fogstar Drift last month for £279. Six months ago the same cell was closer to £380. Fitted it in the motorhome alongside my existing 100Ah and the Victron SmartShunt is reading the pair beautifully.

Wondering if this is just a temporary dip or whether Chinese cell prices are genuinely settling lower long-term. Seems like every week there's a new brand undercutting the last one.

Anyone bought anything recently that's surprised them on price? Curious what people are running in cabins or tiny houses too — different use case but same question really.

FrankFisher | 847 posts | ⚡ Solar Addict

@DownsCruiser that's a cracking price, well done. I've been watching the Fogstar Drifts for a while and nearly pulled the trigger a few times.

Worth mentioning that EVE and CATL raw cell prices have dropped significantly at source in China over the past year, so I reckon we're seeing that finally filter through to retail here. Whether it stays this low is anyone's guess - currency fluctuations could easily push things back up.

I've been tempted to go direct through AliExpress for bare cells and build my own pack, but honestly the warranty and BMS integration you get from Fogstar or EcoFlow makes the retail price feel more justifiable these days when the gap has narrowed so much.

How are you finding the charge/discharge curves compared to your older battery? Noticeable difference?

SolarNeil | 312 posts | 🌞 Off-Grid Dreamer

Same story on my end — been spec'ing out the battery bank for the shepherd's hut build and the numbers have shifted dramatically even since I started planning twelve months ago. I priced up 400Ah of Fogstar Drift back in spring and nearly choked. Ran the same calculation last week and it's a genuinely different conversation now.

What's interesting is the Renogy side has also softened, so there's proper competition keeping things honest. My plan was always to pair whatever I land on with a Victron SmartShunt and a Multiplus, and suddenly that whole system feels attainable rather than aspirational.

Only question is whether to buy now or wait another quarter. Knowing my luck, the moment I hesitate the prices creep back up.

T6Dream | 1,203 posts | 🔋 Van Life Convert

Timing your purchase well has never mattered more with these cells. I grabbed a pair of 100Ah EVE-based units from Basen back in February and they were already noticeably cheaper than late last year, but what you paid @DownsCruiser is something else entirely.

Worth noting for anyone spec'ing new systems — the BMS quality hasn't dropped alongside the cell prices, which was my concern initially. Running mine through a Victron MPPT with absorption set to 3.45V/cell and they've been absolutely faultless.

@SolarNeil for a shepherd's hut I'd seriously look at a 2P configuration rather than going straight to a larger single unit. Gives you redundancy and the wiring stays manageable. What's your expected daily load looking like?

MandyMorris | 43 posts | 🔋 Forum Newbie

Interesting timing on this thread — I've been pricing up a small LiFePO4 bank specifically for emergency backup at home (power cuts seem to be getting worse round here). Was hesitant because the numbers weren't stacking up six months ago.

Quick question for the more experienced members: does the price drop apply to complete batteries with integrated BMS, or mainly loose cells? I've been looking at the Fogstar range but also spotted some Renogy 100Ah units that seem competitively priced suddenly.

@DownsCruiser how are you finding the Fogstar Drift in practice — any issues with the BMS cutting out under heavy load? That's my main concern for a backup setup where I'd potentially be running a fridge and some lighting simultaneously during an outage.

StormyNomad | 687 posts | ⚡ Grid Defector

Worth keeping an eye on EVE and CATL Grade A cells direct from Fogstar and Fogstar Orbit too — the 314Ah big fellas have come down dramatically. I grabbed a pair of EVE 314Ah bare cells back in spring for a DIY 24V build and honestly couldn't believe the price versus twelve months prior.

One thing I'd flag for @MandyMorris if you're pricing up a smaller bank — don't just compare headline Ah costs. Factor in whether you're getting a proper integrated BMS, what the continuous discharge rating is, and warranty support. Some of the cheaper imported units flooding the market right now look tempting but the after-sales situation can be grim if something goes sideways. Fogstar's UK-based support has been solid in my experience, which counts for something.

NicolaTaylor72 | 156 posts | 🏠 Tiny House & Boat

Been watching this closely for my narrowboat build. Ended up pulling the trigger on a 100Ah Fogstar Drift last week at £149 — genuinely couldn't believe the price compared to even early this year.

Quick question for the more experienced folks though: does anyone know if these price drops are reflected in the prismatic cells too, or mainly the drop-in ready batteries? I'm debating whether to go DIY prismatic for my second bank to save weight in the bow, but I'm struggling to find reliable current pricing comparisons.

@StormyNomad — you mentioned EVE cells direct from Fogstar, are those significantly cheaper per Ah than the assembled packs right now, or has the gap narrowed to the point where the assembled ones make more sense given the BMS is included?