DIY SLA Battery Pack?

[tmort]

I have an old 36V EV Global ebike. After EV Global went out of business, the manufacturer of the batteries ceased production of them.

I remember reading about how 2D printing could really change the way you would go about replacing an obsolete part in the future. The example I read about was a handle for some sort of home appliance. Rather that some supply house having a huge inventory of obsolete parts, the idea was CAD files would be inventoried and if you needed a part the file could be made available and a part could be fabricated locally.

was just wondering if it might be possible to make your own. The case could be made with a 3D printer. I don't know much about the insides of the battery other than there are a bunch of lead plates and acid. I don't know if 3D printing would have any sort of role in this part of it or whether it would just be a matter of fabricating the plates in more conventional ways, etc.

Maybe the battery manufacturer YUASA could be persuaded to allow use of their plans, ideally out of good will (Since EV Global probably paid for the initial design work) or maybe they would get a percentage of the price. They could be build one at a time or very small lots as needed.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[markz]

Lead is dead- go for lithium

Yes Lead-Acid batteries are no good. Sag, Capacity, HEAVY!!!!!
You need Lithium.
I dont know what the number is, but for a 20Ah Lead-Acid battery, you only get maybe 12Ah out of it. 60%.

 

[LockH]

I was actually emailing with Daisy about their "classic" lead acid batteries for stationary storage of solar energy:
http://kweight.en.alibaba.com/

... back in February last year. Now thinking glass fish tank with lead sheathing as used in roofing or removed from old roofs... and adding diluted acid in water of course. VERY "old school". Recharging from wind (solar) or solar panels.

 

[dogman dan]

Actually, whether you have the 36v version or the 24v version, SLA cells of the same physical dimensions are still commonly available.

But nothing perked up my 24v EVG like a different kind of battery. I used to run mine on 16 ah of nicads. Really nice. But NiCad is dead as lead if you want a really long ride.

Look for some NMC or other very small and light lithium battery in your voltage. It should be quite possible to find an 8-10 ah 36v pack that will fit in your old battery box. it will have to bypass the original on board charger of course.

no need for printing, just some re wiring inside the box, so you can plug an external charger into that original charger plug port.