I pretty much want both performance and range if I could. Which I'm sure upgrading to a Lithium Ion would do seeing as they are, as far as I know, better then the lead sealed acid batteries I currently use.
With SLA vs Li, then yes, it would almost certainly give you both.
I'd guesstimate that a lithium pack the same capacity and voltage as the original would *at least* double your range. If you have a "72v 22Ah" SLA pack, then if it was an 18650 pack with an average 3Ah non-LiFePO4 cell, that's a 16s 8p pack. But I'd get a pack that is at least 25-50% more capacity than that, so that as it ages it still gives you the range you want.
Performance increase depends on how much voltage sag you get now under various load conditions that you want better performance under, and the specific capabilities of the pack you replace it with. You'd want to pick a pack (not made of pickled peppers) that can continuously handle *at least* 50A (the max your ocntroller is marked with), preferably at least 25-50% more than that, so that as it ages it still performs as desired (and performs very well until that point).
If you are willing to do a little DIY, you can buy used EV modules that can be rebuilt into the battery you need. Most likely you would need to reconfigure the module(s) to get the voltage you need without exceeding hte max full charge 84v your controller is listed at. The less you have to alter the pack, the better, because these are usually very well built. The hardest part is finding modules that will physically fit in the space you have available (unless you are willing to modify that, too). You may need to build a casing for the modules to weatherproof them.
And you would probably want to add a BMS to the pack, to monitor it during charge and discharge. It shouldn't need to do balancing, if the pack is well built and the cells are matched (which is fairly likely with ex-EV modules, even used ones), but if you want to monitor it for this you could get one with bluetooth so you can use a phone app to check it now and then. (makes some troubleshooting easier when there are problems, or even when building the pack).
Greentecauto, batteryhookup, etc. are usually good places to get these used packs, and they will be MUCH cheaper than a new battery.
If interested in this route, take a peek around those sites and see if what is there looks like something you could work with, and then we can figure out what they ahve that might work for your needs.
Which I'm going to assume that if I was to upgrade the battery, I'd have to upgrade the controller?)
You shouldn't need to change that out unless the performance doesn't end up like what you want, dependiong on exactly what you need to be different.
For instance, if you want higher speed, you usually need higher voltage, and that *would* require a controller change, most likely. It would also require higher current to help get the greater power it takes to go faster, so the battery has to be more capable to do it, and higher capacity to give the same range at the higher speed.
If you only want better acceleration / hill climbing, then a better more capable battery, with enough capacity to give you the range at that higher current, would probably do the trick. If not, then you'd need a higher current controller too, and a battery that can handle that current and has the capacity, too.
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