Excellent Looking LiFEPo4 batteries on Ebay

[Beagle123]

Take a look at these batteries on Ebay:

36v, 10ah Foxx Lithium Battery:
http://cgi.ebay.com/FoxxPower-LifeP...oryZ2904QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

48v, 30ah Foxx Lithium
http://cgi.ebay.com/FoxxPower-LifeP...oryZ2904QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

These batteries are used in really high-quality scooters. This scooter manufacturer uses them:

http://www.skeuter.com

That company has been around for a while, and I've heard that their products are good.

Whoever gets these batteries, be sure to post a report here!

 

[Ypedal]

A member has one on here already ( Mvadvanture ? )

 

[Link]

Wooo! Lithium has hit less than a dollar a watt-hour (first time I've noticed, anyway)! C'mon, baby, keep it comin 8).

 

[disadvantage]

Last year I wasted $1500 on two "cheap" Chinese 36V 15Ah li-ion pack. The problems I experienced are similar to what others have reported on this forum. The BMSs blew-up and the cells puffed from moisture contamination. They are no longer safe to use, and will soon go into the trash dumpster.

There will be no more "cheap" Chinese li-ion battery packs for me. After shipping across the ocean and numerous middle-man markups, they are not low cost; most definitely not if they only last one season.

I am now building a pack from quality Canadian-made eMoli cells from Milwaukee power tool packs. I will use a LVC circuit similar to the one GGoodrum & BobMcRee have designed. Charging is a problem I am still solving; I likely will use a big single charger for bulk-charging, and multiple one-cell chargers for balancing & topping up.

Buying cheap means buying twice.

 

[steveo]

these look good...they really are a123 cells?

 

[OneEye]

It's the same fundamental chemistry, but a different manufacturer, process and form factor. How much of the battery longevity is due to the specifics of A123's manufacturing process compared to its competition is unknown at this point.

 

[Beagle123]

Last year I wasted $1500 on two "cheap" Chinese 36V 15Ah li-ion pack. The problems I experienced are similar to what others have reported on this forum. The BMSs blew-up and the cells puffed from moisture contamination.

Hi disadvantages:

What brand was your pack? I've talked to someone that says that these skeuters are great bikes, and they sell them for $2500 etc. I'm sure that these batteries work. The people at Thunderstruck Motors, who I also respect, use Thundersky batteries. I've heard that Thundersky had some problems too. However, the bikes they build work great too.

The bottom line is that these cheaper companies have made some bad cells in the past, but they will correct their errors. They simply won't be able to stay in business selling bad cells. I have a feeling that we'll be able to buy good quality packs much more cheaply soon.

 

[calinb]

Very interesting! I wonder how much that 48V / 30Ah pack weighs!

http://cgi.ebay.com/FoxxPower-LifePo4-Battery-48v30a-Lithium-Iron-Phosphate_W0QQitemZ150201541614QQihZ005QQcategoryZ2904QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I see 16 pairs of terminals (16 cells?) and the "spec-bite" doesn't help me figure out the weight:
"A high practical capacity as high as 165mAh/g"

-Cal

 

[PJD]

I got this reply to an ebay inquiry about the pack:

"The 30ah cells are 6 1/4"H x 4"W x 1 1/4"D, 1c-5c discharge, Can be reassembled, just please keep the same sequence of cells and wiring pattern."

So, presumably the pack is about 7" high by 8" wide by 10" long (18cm by 20.5 cm by 25.5 cm)

According to his site here:
http://www.atenenergy.biz/Foxx%20Specs.htm
the pack should weigh about 40 lbs/18kg

This pack is a bit too small for my scooter application - it might end up just barely equaling 40AH lead acid pack in range performance - my scooter averaging probably about .75C over a typical trip (someone correct me if I'm wrong) But the seller (Zane) has a 35AH cell can be arranged nicely in my battery boxes. He is in China till Tuesday, I'll give him a call then.

 

[PJD]

hmm...

A check of his website shows the quoted cell dimension corresponds to the 20AH cell. A 30 AH pack would be about 7" by 8" by 16".

 

[PJD]

I am 80% decided to buy a 40AH, 48 volt pack from the producer of this pack which use "Foxx" cells from Aten energy.

I'd like to get the Yesa batteries. Their 50AH "high rate" cells would be perfect from form factor perspective. But they are too expensive - almost twice the cost of the Foxx cells.

 

[solarbbq2003]

thats interesting, I went to the factory that makes these batteries, i've decided to go with these ones, they are not a123 cells,
the company has been around about as long as a123, and valence. Same technology, differences in ingredients they use as they tweak the composition. Its a chinese company not linked to a123 or valence.
This company will have cylindrical cells coming out soon, best to wait for those, the rectangular ones, the copper and aluminium sheet needs to be folded to fit in the cells, when i took a cell apart the fold lines were extremely brittle, and I think may effect longevity. Is just my guess but I think overall pretty decent cells, as a cheaper alternative to a123 and valence.
The balancing chargers they use seem to be ok, I have one customer where some leds are not working on the balancing charger but seems to be still balancing the cells ok. The comany is a bit slow to supply though, and the balancing chargers they never seem to have alot in stock but they will improve on that over time I think.
The company that makes them has plants in different parts of china, the location of the plant for these cells, is by no means easy or convenient to get to.
Why they located it where they did I have no idea, but quite an adventure just to get there.

 

[PJD]

Solarbbq,

Do you know anything about the relationship of Aten Energy http://www.atenenergy.biz/ to the manufacturer of these Foxx cells? Thanks.

 

[solarbbq2003]

no I dont know that company, if they are selling foxx, foxx would be supplying them or some association with foxx,
but I dont think foxx has any sole distribution rights in usa for those batts, I believe the company is going to go that way in future though, have a dealer in each country

 

[safe]

The form factor is identical to Thundersky and the price (for 30 ah verses 40 ah) is the same.

$1080 / 16 = $67.5 * 40/30 = $90.

Thundersky's can be bought from Patrick for $80.

However, with Patrick it's just raw cells and no BMS, so that makes the prices about equal.

Nice looking and their website is VERY good. (great information)