Battery Packs - Where to buy them

[knightmb]

This is a sticky post I'm going to leave up in case anyone is searching for websites to purchase high quality battery packs for their e-bike creation. Any other suggestions are certainly welcome, I'll add them to the list.

1. http://www.batteryspace.com <- My favorite from person experience
2. http://www.ebikes.ca/store.shtml <- Others had good experience
3. http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/advertising/Batteries/Allbatteries/
4. http://www.all-battery.com <- Others had good experience

[Lessss]

Batteryspace won't do international orders unless you fax them the front and back of your CC. A big nono for identity theft

[NickF23]

http://www.ebikes.ca

I've not ordered from Justin myself but I've heard lots of good reports.

[Reid Welch]

Batteryspace won't do international orders unless you fax them the front and back of your CC. A big nono for identity theft

Hi Les,

I am wondering why they do that to Canadians! How strange.
But I don't see it as a risk of identity theft--but I don't know.

I do suppose, though, that a faxed image is more easily intercepted by moles or dumpster divers? Is that it? Cos it's only the same info as we enter manually, otherwise.

---

I have bought from both companies. Both are to be commended.
Justin is very responsive and responsible.
Batteryspace offers quality goods at reasonable prices, as does Justin.

[knightmb]

Well, I would volunteer to use my company to ship batteries to our international friends they don't want to give away all their personal info. As long as you cover whatever all the costs involved are

[Elmweaver]

Not sure if this thread is for SLA battery packs also. If it is then here is a place I found with good prices. I can't say if the batteries are good though will have to wait until I can afford some to find out.

http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/ ... batteries/

[knightmb]

Not sure if this thread is for SLA battery packs also. If it is then here is a place I found with good prices. I can't say if the batteries are good though will have to wait until I can afford some to find out.

http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/ ... batteries/

I'll go ahead and stick it at the top, let me know how your experience goes with them.

[Reid Welch]

my gosh, that's a great price they present for four 12/12 SLA's.
Would cost only $102 delivered to Fl (where I am).

These are probably gel cells? I think the Curries' stock BB brand batteries are AGM type, and so, have better discharge characteristic than gel cells (less sag?) Not sure.

But the price! Whoa!

[patrick_mahoney]

Here's another one to add:

http://www.all-battery.com

I bought a replacement battery for a Roomba, as well as the 96 cells used in my lithium ion e-bike battery and have been generally pleased with their service.

[Ypedal]

I can vouch for Justin at Ebikes.ca.. not only does he provide excellent support, he TESTS his packs before he ships them ! Very good thing !

I have purchased Nimh.. and Nicad packs.. and motor kits... from this place and have always had nothing but great service !

[Lowell]

I can vouch for Justin at Ebikes.ca.. not only does he provide excellent support, he TESTS his packs before he ships them ! Very good thing !

I have purchased Nimh.. and Nicad packs.. and motor kits... from this place and have always had nothing but great service !

+1 for Justin. He's local to me, and answered all my email questions promptly. Truly a pleasure to deal with someone so enthusiastic about what they do.

[xyster]

Not just batteries, here's my experience with stuff I bought for my bike and scooter over the past year:

+2 for Justin at ebikes.ca for outstanding and individualized customer service -- he even spent an hour installing a freewheel on the 5304 I bought from him and re-dishing the wheel at no extra charge.

+1 for all-battery.com, allelectronics.com and batteryspace.com for numerous prompt and accurate deliveries w/o any BS.

+1 for poweridestore.com and the owner, Earl, for individualized service and a real commitment to fixing mistakes ASAP.

+1 for cheapbatterypacks.com for lightening quick service (order in the mail within an hour!) and selling silicon-coated high-flexibility spaghetti wire by the foot. They sell Anderson powerpoles too, but I don't know which sizes.

-5 for robotcombat.com and partner slt-technology. Wrong order sent. Returned it and promptly received correct item -- but correct item was DOA. I returned it too. They said they might have to send it back to the UK for service. No communication for another 3 months. They then said they never received my return shipment. I proved I shipped it correctly. They agreed to a 100% refund minus shipping which I ate. Waited 2 more months for refund, also requiring many more emails and phone calls. Robotcombat is a drop-shipper, meaning they don't keep the stock themselves, but sell it for the importer/middleman. Bad business model as each blames the other for mistakes and the customer is caught in the middle.

-10 for airfreetires.com. Wrong order sent. I returned it per instructions with an RMA, but they (Hugh the owner and probably sole proprietor) never sent out a new order, and stopped returning emails and phonecalls. Tires advertised as fitting currie scooters did ot fit my currie scooter, but slid from side-to-side on the rim. Airless tech itself may be great, but airfreetires.com was for me effectively a complete rip-off. Another drop shipper. Stay away!

[knoxie]

If you are in the UK Team Hybrid sells NIMH and Lipo in all sizes and will soon be getting some lipo in BIONX style Lipo frame mtd boxes that look very nice indeed.

http://www.teamhybrid.co.uk

Cheers

Knoxie

[Eric G]

I've had really good service from GNBS in Hamilton Ont. Can.

http://www.absolutebattery.com/index.html

I bought a sla charger & sla batts from them. The charger went belly up after 2 months,I emailed them and they sent out the new charger before I had time to send them back the broken one.

Eric

[Deepkimchi]

Now that I ordered my 5304, I'm trying to find some Li - Po4 packs, 36(37) or 48 V, about 10-15 ah range with battery management. Also want a compatible charger that works with the pack.

MAX dimensions would be 30 cm long X 15 cm wide X 15 cm height.
(1ft X 6 in X 6 in)

I see Kokam is with me here in Korea, just got to find someone to call them - http://www.kokam.com/english/product/battery_main.html

They seem to have assembled packs in a catalog
http://www.kokam.com/product/product_pd ... _Kokam.pdf

Also sources at http://www.iloveebikes.com/batteries.html
with $ 3.5 per ah which includes BMS

Next is more expensive - and still haven't figured out if Li polymers are always Li-Po4 batteries - $749
http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catal ... -c-36.html

Same here, are Li-Polymers Li-Po4? $ 460 for 10 ah with BMS.
https://2339072343.monstercommercesites ... rodID=3326

http://www.velectris.com/catalog/batter ... rrency=USD
Li-ion 36 V 10 ah at $537

[xyster]

...
Next is more expensive - and still haven't figured out if Li polymers are always Li-Po4 batteries - $749
http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catal ... -c-36.html

No! And the distinction is very important. Lithium polymer is the same lithium cobalt (LiCo) chemistry as in laptop/cell phone batteries (lithium ion a.k.a. Li-ion), but packaged into a polymer allowing cells of odd sizes, such as "prismatic" (rectangular). Lithium polymer carries all the risks, benefits, and concerns of lithium cobalt since it is lithium cobalt. Lithium phosphate (LiPO4) is a different chemistry, safer, longer-lived, lower energy density, higher power density. The a123 cells are the most common example of lithium phosphate. Lithium phosphate can also be packaged into a prismatic form. Lithium manganese (LiMn -- example: Emoli cells) is a third kind of common lithium chemistry that sits between LiPO4 and LiCo in most measures of performance.

More details --
Lithium ion and polymer:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-5.htm
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-3.htm

Same here, are Li-Polymers Li-Po4? $ 460 for 10 ah with BMS.
https://2339072343.monstercommercesites ... rodID=3326

These are lithium polymer, not LiPO4. Besides the big tag saying "polymer", the voltage is a dead giveaway. Lithium polymer and lithium manganese cells are 3.7 and 3.8 volts nominal per cell respectively. Lithium phospate cells are 3.2-3.3 volts nominal.

If I was you, I'd check into Forsen's selection of lithium phosphate and lithium manganese packs:
http://www.forsenusa.com/batteries.html
Ypedal here has a thread of his tests of Forsen's LiMn pack.
If I remember correctly, Kokam also makes large LiPO4 cells.

[Ypedal]

Did i read that right ? you are in korea not far from Kokam ?

Walk in there and grab me a few extras !! hehe..

The FalconEV ( forsen ) packs are holding up very well so far, still early in testing, but so far so good ! I come back from every ride with what has been called the " EV Grin "

[Johnbear]

Has anyone ever bought from this guy in Vancouver. I have bad luck. Everytime I ask if he has something he always seems to be out of stock. I now buy from Justin - he is a great guy .

Quote from local e-bike shop jvbike, "There is always something new at the JV Bike - the Best Urban Cycling Store in Canada! "

[Deepkimchi]

Was wondering which bike shop you meant? A local or on the internet?

FalconEV got me miffed, but I reckon I'll still order the flippin Li Po4 batteries.

Before I order he sends an e-mail it'll be 30 days.
Once my $ 590 check arrives I get an email 60 days.
Literal slow boat from China
I don' t consider that a "better business practice"
Ypedal - hope those batteries are good..

[Johnbear]

http://www.jvbike.com/ - He sells motor kits and ships in Canada, I am not sure about the US.

[Lock]

Cyclone motors and kits have been brought up here before many times. Especially the thread last August "Dahon Matrix with Cyclone 500w" from hopbot (who doesn't seem to have posted since then - hopbot, ya there? Just wondering how life with the Cyclone was going...):
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1757

I believe I saw a reference somewhere that "back in the day" Cyclone were offering cobalt lithium? Might be wrong there, but the point is they are offering LiFePO4 packs now, so just wish to add their name to this thread (`cause all the rest of the references to Cyclone on ES are about their motors and the chain drive):

http://cyclone-tw.com/order.htm

Can't comment on their pack prices myself. Anyone?

BTW, the US/CDA rep for Cyclone TW has a site that seems to be down? Permanently? Don't know:
http://www.cyclone-usa.com/

A week or so I posted a link to the Green MotorSport lithium-ion power pack (sized like car batteries):
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3368

Cyclone is promoting a similar packaging of 12v lifepo4, plus touting "We can build LiFePo4 Battery voltage over 300V with BMS, suitable for 32KW motor."

Tks
lOck

[hopbot]

hey there guys, i'm here! sorry i havent posted in a while. the rainy season hit then i got back into racing RC cars after about 20 years! just rode the bike yesterday (hit 32mph!). i still love it. i noticed the cyclone site has changed a bit. they do seem to be pushing the DIY package for LiFePO4. i had received a 17Ah LiFePO4 pack from them that they dont seem to offer anymore.

[MitchJi]

I can vouch for Justin at Ebikes.ca.. not only does he provide excellent support, he TESTS his packs before he ships them ! Very good thing !

Hi,

This says a lot about Justin

The fact that he feels compelled to do this also says a lot about the quality
(or lack of quality) of affordable Ebike packs

[Parker]

I found this place that sells batteries and packs, custom too. Might be useful...

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/store.html

[ejonesss]

they even sell the a123lifepo4 (dewalt) loose cells for $16.50.

I found this place that sells batteries and packs, custom too. Might be useful...

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/store.html