We understand and know that deep cycle batteries look a lot like car batteries to people who aren’t familiar with them, but in reality, they’re quite different. A deep cycle battery is a lead battery designed to provide sustained power over a long period and run until it is 80% discharged or more, at which point it needs to be recharged. It is important to note that although deep cycle batteries can be discharged up to 80%, we recommend not discharging below 45% to increase the life of the battery. The level of discharge is the “deep cycle” and lasts in contrast to other types of batteries that store only short bursts of energy before they demand to be recharged. Deep cycle batteries are used in recreational vehicles (RVs) and boats. These are also common in golf carts, large solar power systems and in marine applications and materials handling, including forklifts.