Smallest Battery for Opel Corsa A: Find Yours!

We're currently assembling a minimalist mobile home for an old school friend. It's based on a 1992 Opel Corsa A with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine and 60 horsepower (44 kW). The goal is to represent automotive minimalism, but it shouldn't be slow, and it will be stripped down to the bare essentials. Only two seats will remain, and only the front door panels (upholstered hardboard) will be kept. The radio and other accessories will be removed. Missing active and passive safety features will be compensated for with a roll cage.

A moderate lowering kit (30/20) is already installed, and the tires are intended to remain at their standard size (165, 13"). However, the lowering was primarily for aesthetic reasons, as the car looked incredibly high.

Since the vehicle battery is already worn out, we want to save weight here as well, and we were thinking of a robust but smaller battery. There are small lead-acid batteries available, or you could use a conventional lead-acid battery from the motorcycle sector. Suitable brackets would then be custom-made.

What is the best option for that, and how much starting current does such a battery need to provide for a gasoline engine?

The intended use of the vehicle will be a daily commute of 48 km each way, five times a week. Occasionally, there might be trips for shopping. It's important to ensure sufficient starting power during winter operation. However, the engine runs very well and starts readily, whether it's warm or cold. And: In this lightweight vehicle, the 60 horsepower feels quite lively!

I think the motorcycle battery might be too weak. However, there are car batteries with 32Ah available. These were used in the early Twingos, which had very basic equipment.

Hi, the starting current should be approximately 120 to 150 amps, and it can handle that.
My BMW "Boxer" battery is in good condition, with 12V and 19Ah. It's half the size of your 30Ah battery!
The 45 AH model is cheaper.
The Hawker Genesis Pure Lead is even more powerful, but it's unclear if it's significantly lighter. In any case, at €130, it's considerably overpriced.

Currently, a standard 36 Ah battery ("Arktis") is installed. Half the size sounds good!

Lichtpieps ist heute nachgeruestet worden, darf man ja mit 'ner Minibatterie nicht vergessen!

I then took it for a test drive, and I have to admit, this little thing handles pretty well. It's definitely got some serious acceleration!

Regarding being half the size, my IntAkt moped battery has 230A of starting current according to DIN standards (measured).
but don't forget the light, 20 Ah is not much .

A Saito battery with 22 Ah and 200 A starting current has now been installed. It's half the size, slightly less tall, and feels about half as heavy. I now need to fabricate a suitable mounting bracket...

1.4 Corsa and saving money???

In the A-Corsa, it's likely still the C14NZ engine (with a distributor).
But the successor model, the X14SZ (with DIS module), is a real gas-guzzler.

10 liters is a normal consumption even in summer during city driving.

My BMR is even more efficient.

m;

C14NZ, correct! :wink:

The current city consumption with the "express surcharge" is between 6.2 and 6.6 liters. It is certainly possible to achieve even better fuel efficiency by driving more consciously and economically.

Fakt ist aber, dass der Motor in der leichten Karosse richtig Spass macht!

Warum deiner allerdings so versoffen ist bleibt mir ein Raetsel!


By the way, I made the battery holder from sheet steel with elongated holes, and it's attached with threaded rods.