As an RC reviewer, I have always believed that the battery is the true core power of a racing car. Whether it is the explosive power during acceleration or the endurance performance in long races, the choice of battery is crucial.

Recently, I conducted a test on the XTAR 1.5V AAA 1620mWh rechargeable lithium battery. Through aspects such as endurance comparison and speed testing, I comprehensively evaluated the performance of this battery and explored its unique advantages.

Comparison of Common Mini-Z Batteries

Thunderbolt AAA 1.5V 205mAh Heavy-duty

This is a regular alkaline battery. If you have used this battery in a Mini-Z before, you will find that its endurance is limited, and its performance is far inferior to that of rechargeable batteries, making it difficult to stably power the racing model for a long time.

Reedy AAA 1.2V 800mAh Rechargeable Ni-MH

This is also the original battery for the Team Associated SR27. Under load conditions, the Reedy battery can stably maintain its voltage at a level close to 1.2V, while the Thunderbolt alkaline battery tends to experience a more significant voltage drop under the same circumstances. Therefore, the Reedy Ni-MH battery lasts longer and can also bring better performance.

XTAR AAA 1.5V 1620mWh Rechargeable Lithium

As a lithium battery, the XTAR has more stable voltage characteristics, with a smaller voltage drop during discharge, and its endurance performance is better than that of Ni-MH batteries.

Compared with the Reedy 1.2V Ni-MH battery, each XTAR lithium battery has a voltage that is 0.3V higher. Taking a Mini-Z powered by four batteries as an example, the voltage increases from 4.8V to 6V, enabling the entire vehicle to obtain more stable and sufficient power throughout the operation cycle.

Battery Test

We will find out through actual tests what changes will occur when the Mini-Z voltage is increased from 4.8V to 6V, and how different types of Mini-Z racing cars respond to this increase. For this purpose, I will conduct tests on the Mini-Z MR03, Team Associated SR27, and Mini-Z Buggy off-road vehicle.

1. Pre-Test Inspection

To ensure the safety of the equipment, we used a small PN Racing charger to detect the actual voltage of the XTAR battery.

From the display screen, we can see that the voltage of each battery is stably maintained at 1.5V. This indicates that the nominal data is authentic and reliable, and the normal use of the Mini-Z will not be affected by incorrect labeling.

2. Endurance Test of Batteries

• Reedy 1.2V 800mAh Ni-MH: Total operation time was 53 minutes.

• XTAR 1.5V 1620mWh Lithium: Total operation time was 66 minutes. 

During operation, the higher rotational speed of the Mini-Z powered by the XTAR battery was clearly audible, and the vehicle performed more agilely. After the battery was drained, its temperature remained moderate without overheating.

3. Speed Test on Different Mini-Z Racing Cars

Next, I conducted speed tests on different Mini-Z racing cars outdoors using the XTAR battery:

• Mini-Z Buggy： Time per lap was 7 seconds （5：49~5：56）

• Team Associated SR27: Time per lap was 8 seconds (6:28~6:36)

• Mini-Z MR03: Time per lap was 9 seconds (7:18~7:27)

From the test results, I believe that after using the XTAR lithium battery, the maximum speed of each car has been significantly increased, and the revolutions per minute has also increased significantly. At the same time, the battery did not overheat during operation and showed stable and reliable performance.

4. Battery Charging

After completing the Mini-Z test, I charged the battery using the XTAR L8 charger purchased together with the battery. Compared with disposable alkaline batteries, rechargeable lithium batteries have higher cost-effectiveness in long-term use.

Conclusion

Through comparative tests, it can be seen that the XTAR 1.5V AAA 1620mWh rechargeable lithium battery has obvious advantages when used in Mini-Z:

• Stable voltage for consistent performance delivery

• Enhanced racing car speed and handling sensitivity

• Better endurance than Ni-MH batteries and alkaline batteries

• Good temperature control after long-term operation

Overall, the XTAR battery has delivered an excellent performance, and I believe it will become an ideal choice for many RC enthusiasts.

From the perspective of RC racing cars, the above test information is very practical, especially for those models whose chassis cannot be equipped with lithium polymer batteries and must use AAA batteries. The XTAR 1.5V AAA 1620mWh lithium battery is a feasible power solution.