I still don't get this thread, but I'm not trying to stop you.
I've seen many ebikers go to or back to Lipo due to issues with other chemistries. Lipo isn't perfect, but so aren't the others. I've tried Li-ion on a board and the climbing ability of the board sucked because of battery sag, not a high enough C rating. One of the reasons many high powered ebikes use Lipo, and they are only looking for 30a discharge. I agree that a commercial product should be much more user friendly, but RC gets away with using them. You put down a lot of money for a Traxxas RC car and the user is expected to learn how to handle Lipo. Altered skateboards mentioned the problems with using Lipo in their product and even he said on his own personal board he was using Lipo, not Li-ion like they sell. Again, I think that as soon as RC starts using a different chemistry, I'm game, but they use Lipo because the cost/weight/size ratio is the best current option.
Tons of good articles on the web about battery chemistry, here's one from an ebike site:
https://www.electricbike.com/high-current-batteries-not-lipo/
High performance requires high amps, but LiPo batteries can be dangerous for someone who is inexperienced with them. LiPo is capable of putting out VERY high current (the C-rate), and if you are building a racing E-bike, they are simply the best choice.
A LiPo pack will be smaller, lighter, and will put out more peak and continuous amps than any other pack you can buy. The problem is that…for E-bikers who want something that is much safer, but has better performance than the average common battery pack, the options are not well known.
I see it mentioned that these packs will be about the same price as Lipo packs, but what are some actual figures. I know that a decent 18650 cell pack for a bike is well over $500. Even a 10ah 36v pack sells for around $400. Shipping on those is also pricey. Which is what you are planning on making, correct? If you can get packs for cheaper than that I imagine the ebike community would jump on those. Charge rates on these are also usually only 2.5amps, another reason why RC likes lipo. I don't see how a $35 charger and two/four 4s or 5s 5000mah packs at $50/$100 are about the same price as what you are suggesting. I can charge 4 5000mah packs on my cheap charger with a balance board for an extra $10 and they'll charge in less time than a 10ah Li-ion pack.
If you want ease of use for a 10s Lipo pack, just use the cheap balance chargers on two 5s packs. You can buy those for like $10 and are basically foolproof. That's what came with one of my first RC cars. Didn't someone permanently attach a balance charger to their board?
Anyway, carry on. Check out the ebike section of this forum, there is more user experience over there about batteries.
Can't wait to get rid of my lipos to be honest. I don't want to swap packs as often. I want a one plug solution for my batteries (easier to charge at work). Don't need to bring my Lipo charger or connect 4 batteries and press buttons on a display screen. Plug it in and forget about it.
