Why are Amorge P45B Packs so Expensive

[halg]

I got a quote from Amorge for a 13S6P battery this week and it was $432 for Samsung 50S cells and $601 for Molicel P45B cells. This surprised me as I've been hearing and reading recently that they dropped in price. Sure enough I did a search and 18650batterystore lists the 45B as actually cheaper than the 50S.

Obviously Amorge's supplier is probably different from that site. But, I mean all these cells are probably coming from a limited number of factories/warehouses. Or am I wrong about that.

Any guess why the premium (and such a large one) still exists? Other than the idea that maybe people will still pay Amorge that premium so why would they drop it.

 

[amberwolf]

Maybe they bought the cells they have when they cost more...and don't want to lose all that money?

Maybe they're charging for the labor / etc.?

You'd have to ask them for cost breakdowns to find out why they cost what they do--no one else can tell you.

 

[halg]

Maybe they bought the cells they have when they cost more...and don't want to lose all that money?

Maybe they're charging for the labor / etc.?

You'd have to ask them for cost breakdowns to find out why they cost what they do--no one else can tell you.

Thanks for the reply.

I did but they didn't respond. I imagine they must have stockpiled when the prices were higher? But, they seem to do so much volume that I would not think they have a large stockpile. When I requested a quote before the chinese new year the rep said they had 600 batteries in the queue before me. But, I don't think the 45B prices came down so much in the past week or two. I've been reading and hearing they dropped for about a month or so although I don't keep a regular eye on it personally until now.

A couple months ago I had decided not to build my own battery based on their pricing. They could basically build it, put it in a metal box and ship it to me for only a little more than what it would have cost me in materials when I did the analysis back then. Also in custom shapes. But, that math is quite different right now. The 45B is so superior for higher power needs it makes more sense to build right now for my application which is a dirt bike conversion.

Below is their quote. Although, perhaps prices fluctuate more than I previously understood so it may not be much use as time passes.

 

[E-HP]

I got a quote from Amorge for a 13S6P battery this week and it was $432 for Samsung 50S cells

So $432 for a 78 cell pack, or just $468 of cells alone, before the cost of a BMS and labor is expensive? The molical pack is a normal price and the Samsung is a mistake that you should buy right away if they honor it and the cells are legit.

 

[halg]

So $432 for a 78 cell pack, or just $468 of cells alone, before the cost of a BMS and labor is expensive? The molical pack is a normal price and the Samsung is a mistake that you should buy right away if they honor it and the cells are legit.

I did. Paid for the 50S pack Monday. They have a good rep and tear downs I saw showed they make quality batteries. People in the surron and dirt bike conversion communities have been buying from them for years. I just didn't understand why the 45B's were so much more. Sounds like the answer instead is that the 50S pack was a great deal.

 

[BlueSwordM]

I got a quote from Amorge for a 13S6P battery this week and it was $432 for Samsung 50S cells and $601 for Molicel P45B cells. This surprised me as I've been hearing and reading recently that they dropped in price. Sure enough I did a search and 18650batterystore lists the 45B as actually cheaper than the 50S.

Obviously Amorge's supplier is probably different from that site. But, I mean all these cells are probably coming from a limited number of factories/warehouses. Or am I wrong about that.

Any guess why the premium (and such a large one) still exists? Other than the idea that maybe people will still pay Amorge that premium so why would they drop it.

There are 3 reasons for this.

1- P45B cells were a decent bit more expensive than 50S cells for a while.

2- 50S(1) cells have a deserved reputation for being bad cells if you actually care about battery lifetime, unlike the 45B which is super tough and can achieve higher power levels than the 50S while not dying.

3- The Molicel name has gathered notoriety in the last few years.

 

[halg]

There are 3 reasons for this.

1- P45B cells were a decent bit more expensive than 50S cells for a while.

2- 50S(1) cells have a deserved reputation for being bad cells if you actually care about battery lifetime, unlike the 45B which is super tough and can achieve higher power levels than the 50S while not dying.

3- The Molicel name has gathered notoriety in the last few years.

Fair enough. Perhaps they are not getting many order for the 50S and want to unload them as a result. The battery quoted above is for a kids pit bike for my nephews so power and lifetime weren't my top concern. They aren't very heavy and will outgrow the bike in a few years anyway.

But, I'm drawing up a custom battery for them to quote which is for a full size KLX400 which is full size and heavy. I'm targeting 300 cells if I can fit them. That will add up quick in cost per cell so I'm debating between the 50S and 45B. Hence my original question.

Based on my research the 50S can be good if you keep the amps down. My current plan is to use a test battery on the full size bike to get a feel for exactly how many amps are required for the type of riding I do. Then choose a cell based on that data.

 

[neptronix]

Good question.