So if anyone remembers from my "Lead acid anyone?" thread, I am involved in Electrathon racing.
For the last four years I have been competing exclusively in the lead acid class but am now contemplating a change to lithium. I have a new car design in the works that would really be much more feasible with a 15lb lithium pack vs a 73lb lead acid one.
Electrathon rules require a lithium-ion pack weigh in at no more than 15lbs and not exceed 1kwh per manufacturers specifications. A lithium-iron-phosphate pack is limited to 29lbs and the same 1kwh capacity.
I have flexibility on the voltage from 36 to 60v and will pull an average of 900w continuous with occasional bursts of up to 2500w (probably 5 seconds or less).
My question is, what is the most cost effective way to go about this? Lithium-ion? Lithium-iron-phosphate?
Obviously I want to maximize the capacity and I'll want cells that are actually putting out what they are rated at (or more).
I have zero experience with lithium batteries and I'm not promising I'm actually going to make the switch, but I'm really kind of enamored with my new car design and it would definitely benefit from a lighter, smaller pack than the lead acid I currently use.
Cost is always an important factor however so it may not end up being a change I can afford to make.
But I gotta start somewhere...
So, recommendations?
( The more specific, the better)
For the last four years I have been competing exclusively in the lead acid class but am now contemplating a change to lithium. I have a new car design in the works that would really be much more feasible with a 15lb lithium pack vs a 73lb lead acid one.
Electrathon rules require a lithium-ion pack weigh in at no more than 15lbs and not exceed 1kwh per manufacturers specifications. A lithium-iron-phosphate pack is limited to 29lbs and the same 1kwh capacity.
I have flexibility on the voltage from 36 to 60v and will pull an average of 900w continuous with occasional bursts of up to 2500w (probably 5 seconds or less).
My question is, what is the most cost effective way to go about this? Lithium-ion? Lithium-iron-phosphate?
Obviously I want to maximize the capacity and I'll want cells that are actually putting out what they are rated at (or more).
I have zero experience with lithium batteries and I'm not promising I'm actually going to make the switch, but I'm really kind of enamored with my new car design and it would definitely benefit from a lighter, smaller pack than the lead acid I currently use.
Cost is always an important factor however so it may not end up being a change I can afford to make.
But I gotta start somewhere...
So, recommendations?
( The more specific, the better)