eBike batteries reputable sources

cts_casemod · Mar 5, 2017

Hi guys,

Ill be traveling out to the US for 6 months. I currently have an e-bike which I would like to get shipped. It has a custom built 48V 10Ah LiFeO4 battery, but I can run on 36V too.

I'm thinking shipping that would be too much hassle and expense, so was pondering buying a battery on eBay over there and perhaps selling when I'm returning.
The question is: How do i know I'm buying a good battery?

I would like to have it shipped locally from a US seller rather than imported from china. Do you guys think any of http://www.ebay.com/itm/36v-15ah-12...092017?hash=item28286f90b1:g:5SwAAOSwt7pXNaSJor http://www.ebay.com/itm/36V-10AH-Li...145783?hash=item4d47dcf8f7:g:8a0AAOSwu4BVpV3T options is worthwhile?

Any experiences welcome.

docw009 · Mar 5, 2017

I'd prefer to buy a battery where the seller tells you what brand/type of cells were installed as well. I'd also want to buy a battery from someone who knows that a 12S battery is neither 36volts(10S) or 48 volts (13S). And how many batteries are inside? They're claiming 15 AH. Not likely with cheap cells from China, unless he's got 5 in parallel (10S5P).

A US seller, who still gets batteries from China, but tells you what's inside, is Lunacycle.com. I've purchased batteries there. Not as cheap though, but when you spread the extra cost over six months, maybe a dollar a day?

That said, my first battery is a cheap 36V one from China, $180 plus $80 shipping. Good for an hour or more. Charge it and run it the next day. You could get lucky with the ebay battery like me.

Enjoy the USA when you come!

ScooterMan101 · Mar 5, 2017

Allot depends on Where you are flying into , and where you are flying out of .

Trying to sell something at the end of a trip could result in a very big loss because you cannot stick around and wait for the right buyer.
Buyers are/can be a very hard group of people to deal with here in the U.S.
Add to that many of us would not even want to buy a used e-bay pack.

Let us know where you are Flying in and out of .
If in the San Francisco Bay Area I could possibly just rent you a pack with a deposit of enough to buy another if it gets lost or stolen.
If you are Flying in and out of a different location , perhaps another E.S. member could help you.

amberwolf · Mar 5, 2017

How about Justin's new modular packs? I forget what they are called, but they're in the store over at http://ebikes.ca.

AFAICR they are also sized so they are carryable on planes with you.

BTW, they're not LiFePO4, but I expect they are as safe as can be expected of batteries, given their source and the research Grin has put into them.

Matador · Mar 5, 2017

amberwolf said:
How about Justin's new modular packs? I forget what they are called, but they're in the store over at http://ebikes.ca.

AFAICR they are also sized so they are carryable on planes with you.

BTW, they're not LiFePO4, but I expect they are as safe as can be expected of batteries, given their source and the research Grin has put into them.

Yes those are called LiGo packs (Lithium on the Go

)

tomjasz · Mar 5, 2017

amberwolf said:
How about Justin's new modular packs? I forget what they are called, but they're in the store over at http://ebikes.ca.

AFAICR they are also sized so they are carryable on planes with you.

BTW, they're not LiFePO4, but I expect they are as safe as can be expected of batteries, given their source and the research Grin has put into them.

While I wouldn't hesitate, they are still new and haven't a lot of history. Still they are cool enough and their support is good enough that I'd consider them.
There are a few good resellers that seldom get mentioned. empoweredcycles and California eBike are two.
EM3ev has some new and very robust packs.

chas58 · Mar 7, 2017

em3ev (china) or Luna cycles. I know you don't want china batteries, but most of them come from there originally.

chas58 · Mar 7, 2017

docw009 said:
I'd also want to buy a battery from someone who knows that a 12S battery is neither 36volts(10S) or 48 volts (13S).

I guess I would want my vendor to know that 12s is typically 36volts for a LiFePo4 battery cells, but not with the more traditional lithium chemistry in 18650 cells only needs 10s for 36v.

2old · Mar 7, 2017

+1 for Luna, my 52V, 10 a/h battery has been robust for about a year and a half of use; their products, cost and customer service are impeccable; watch out for the individual who maligns Luna, but AFAICT has never purchased anything from them.

docw009 · Mar 7, 2017

Good point about the 12S LiFePo4 battery cells, chas58. I guess I live in the world of lithium in an 18650 can.

chas58 · Mar 7, 2017

No worries. Most of us do these days. Anyone want my old LiFePo4 pack?

cts_casemod · Mar 10, 2018

Update...

I ended up just buying a new bicycle. It ended up being way cheaper in the US, plus mine needed quite some work on gears/brakes due to age. I then had it shipped on my return, all for not much more than I would have paid for a new one over here. The battery was a hassle to get shipped, I ended up leaving it there and carrying it in my hand luggage on a separate visit a couple months later. At the airport I was just asked if they could check my battery pack for any prohibited substances, so it seems they are more relaxed that what otherwise the rules make believe.

I miss the good old times with other bikers, very different over here, but that's a different topic altogether

tomjasz · Mar 10, 2018

chas58 said:
em3ev (china) or Luna cycles. FROM CHINA TOO!!! I know you don't want china batteries, but most of them come from there originally.

tomjasz · Mar 10, 2018

chas58 said:
No worries. Most of us do these days. Anyone want my old LiFePo4 pack?

Heck yes to learn from! Perfect packs for Worksman delta tricycle

tomjasz · Mar 10, 2018

2old said:
+1 for Luna, my 52V, 10 a/h battery has been robust for about a year and a half of use; their products, cost and customer service are impeccable; watch out for the individual who maligns Luna, but AFAICT has never purchased anything from them.

Very short, now unpublished, warranty. Most the usual B flat China built Hailong and Dolphin. Others have a one year warranty and not much more expensive.

2old · Mar 10, 2018

Another year has elapsed and the Luna battery still alternating between operating a BBS02 or 48V, 1000w rear hub. Although I haven't analyzed it quantitatively, it doesn't seem to have last any pep based on a 9 mile, 3000" ascent that I ride intermittently.

markz · Mar 10, 2018

I am cheap, so I prefer to build my own so I know exactly whats going on.
ru.nkon.nl sells batteries
ebikes.ca is highly recommended
em3ev.com is another one

I wouldnt even bother with any ebay/aliexpress/alibaba wonders.

If anything, go to Home Depot and buy lawn equipment battery like EGO. Dont hack it up too bad, try to find a way to connect so you have warranty. But for the price, just go as mentioned.

tomjasz · Mar 11, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36volt-14Ah-Li-ion-Hailong-3-Premium-Cell-Ebike-Battery-Charger/112439727148?hash=item1a2dee142c:g:bLoAAOSwz71ZPaLs

cts_casemod · Mar 11, 2018

chas58 said:
em3ev (china) or Luna cycles. I know you don't want china batteries, but most of them come from there originally.

I'm aware in all likelihood that's where they originate from, what I meant was having them ship from the US since I wasn't familiar with import regulations and duties, plus it was my main method of transportation at the time, so waiting a few weeks would set me a large expense in transportation costs.

I agree with the home depot solution. There are a few garden tool batteries that run at 36V and they would be covered under warranty, if not tampered with. Plus they are rated for very high discharge rates. Most Chinese cells are hardly rated for 1C.

tomjasz said:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/36volt-14Ah-Li-ion-Hailong-3-Premium-Cell-Ebike-Battery-Charger/112439727148?hash=item1a2dee142c:g:bLoAAOSwz71ZPaLs

I paid less for my (new) e-bicycle. Granted the battery was only 8Ah, still... something to consider :wink:

tomjasz · Mar 11, 2018

cts_casemod said:
I paid less for my (new) e-bicycle. Granted the battery was only 8Ah, still... something to consider :wink:

WAH? Used?

Raisedeyebrows · Mar 11, 2018

Matt has batteries with GA cells, reasonable prices, fast shipping out of the Bay Area, been good batteries for me and I like giving him my business:

https://www.empoweredcycles.com/collections/batteries

cts_casemod · Mar 11, 2018

tomjasz said:
cts_casemod said:

I paid less for my (new) e-bicycle. Granted the battery was only 8Ah, still... something to consider :wink:

Click to expand...

WAH? Used?

New, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XBSYWCY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. 419.99 last April.

eBike batteries reputable sources

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