BtrPower - LiFePO4 failure after only 20 uses - WARRANTY WAS HONORED

[m@Robertson]

Absolutely fascinating thread. I am using LiFePO4 in my portable solar generator (Bluetti AC200P) and in my in-progress home solar installation (Bluetti AC300 and B300 battery packs). That type of li-ion battery is a big positive with the only real downside being power density translating into bigger, heavier batteries.

But I have still had my eye on BtrPower LiFePO4 packs as a possible ebike application... they sure are tempting. Very glad to see this thread and the info within!

 

[HansTrio]

Absolutely fascinating thread. I am using LiFePO4 in my portable solar generator (Bluetti AC200P) and in my in-progress home solar installation (Bluetti AC300 and B300 battery packs). That type of li-ion battery is a big positive with the only real downside being power density translating into bigger, heavier batteries.

But I have still had my eye on BtrPower LiFePO4 packs as a possible ebike application... they sure are tempting. Very glad to see this thread and the info within!

LiFePO4 is heavy for sure.
But they are good for 1000's of cycles whereas liIo not even close so theres Ups and Downs

If this replacement battery proves good, then I can wholeheartedly recommend BtrPower (iMotorBattery).

What we don't know is the exact quality of materials inside the battery.
At this price point if it still has 80% of it's capacity in 3 - 4 years I would say it's a winner.

Also, I think BtrPower along with ALL ebike battery companies are playing a game of shells where they have to balance the capacity (or perceived capacity) against the competition.
If one bike battery company says their $350 battery makes 20Ah, then the others have to do the same to stay competitive.

For instance LiFePO4 has an absolute max charge voltage of 4.2v.....but that isn't good for the battery.
Many say it begins to degrade above 3.65v and I tend to adhere to that.
Most of these ebike battery BMS' are set to 3.75v overcharge Cutoff.

Granted between 3.60v and 4.2v there is only a gain in capacity of 1% or less so it makes no sense to overcharge it.

When I first checked the battery I have dissected, cell #1 was at 3.71v.

 

[m@Robertson]

LiFePO4 is heavy for sure.
But they are good for 1000's of cycles whereas liIo not even close so theres Ups and Downs

If this replacement battery proves good, then I can wholeheartedly recommend BtrPower (iMotorBattery).

What we don't know is the exact quality of materials inside the battery.
At this price point if it still has 80% of it's capacity in 3 - 4 years I would say it's a winner.

Also, I think BtrPower along with ALL ebike battery companies are playing a game of shells where they have to balance the capacity (or perceived capacity) against the competition.
If one bike battery company says their $350 battery makes 20Ah, then the others have to do the same to stay competitive.

For instance LiFePO4 has an absolute max charge voltage of 4.2v.....but that isn't good for the battery.
Many say it begins to degrade above 3.65v and I tend to adhere to that.
Most of these ebike battery BMS' are set to 3.75v overcharge Cutoff.

Granted between 3.60v and 4.2v there is only a gain in capacity of 1% or less so it makes no sense to overcharge it.

When I first checked the battery I have dissected, cell #1 was at 3.71v.

Yeah ... for a typical solar generator you are looking at a life of 800 charge cycles with all of the usual SOC issues that ebike users are (occasionally) aware of, i.e. depth of discharge etc. The LiFePO4 packs, on the other hand... are rated for up to (!) 3000 cycles on the larger B300's, and thanks to the different nature of LiFePO4, the packs are MUCH more tolerant of complete discharge, as well as holding a 100% SOC without the damage you can expect from your typical pack. Still, I am keeping my storage charge at 85% max.

The battery chemistry and these characteristics are the reasons I chose that brand. Interestingly, they have just announced a line of sodium-ion generators/packs. But thats a little too bleeding edge for me.

On the ah capacity, you are describing what I call 'chinese amp-hours'. They vary with the advertisement edition vs. the actual battery itself. I like to address this by eschewing Chinese sellers entirely and having USA vendors I know make the batteries I need, with either my choice of 18650's (30Q or 25R) or 21700's (40T); the latter being now, finally, in supply and affordable.

 

[HansTrio]

about to finish up the capacity test on the replacement 20Ah BtrPower battery they sent.

It's at 21Ah (American tested Ah) now and still going.

 

[HansTrio]

If you have a BtrPower battery and have been using it successfully for at least 2 years could you please chime in?
Or if you used one and it failed.

 

[tomjasz]

If you have a BtrPower battery and have been using it successfully for at least 2 years could you please chime in?
Or if you used one and it failed.

I think you may find, as I have anecdotally, many users don’t post on forums and others are to embarrassed to admit they did NOT take the best advice and gambled. I’m a gambler. I have a new UPP Battery built to my specifications. I’ll tear down before service but I have a very secure charging cabinet. Fire blanket and smoke detectors outside of and in the cabinet. Now before I get anyone upset. I’m intending to use 32700 cells and building a pack I feel I can charge without the SAME level of concernS. I’m a bit paranoid only because I have 10-12 batteries 36, 48 and 52v all 18650. But weight will no longer be an issue on my trike. The 36v new packs will carry me until I build a safer pack. I’m planning a tear down if a EM3ev pack in February. Hopefully it’ll inspire kit builders to consider better batteries for safer living.

 

[HansTrio]

I think you may find, as I have anecdotally, many users don’t post on forums and others are to embarrassed to admit they did take the best advice and gambled. I’m a gambler. I have a new UPP Battery built to my specifications. I’ll tear down before service but I have a very secure charging cabinet. Fire blanket and smoke detectors outside of and in the cabinet. Now before I get anyone upset. I’m intending to use 32700 cells and building a pack I feel I can charge without the sand level of concerns. I’m a bit paranoid only because I have 10-12 batteries 36, 48 and 52v all 18650. But Wright will no longer be an issue on my trike. The 36v new packs will carry me until I build a safer pack. I’m planning a tear down if a EM3ev pack in February. Hopefully it’ll inspire kit builders to consider better batteries for safer living.

Cool. Sounds like you are very knowledgeable with this stuff.
A 32700 pack build would be interesting. Please consider a thread about that build.

 

[tomjasz]

Cool. Sounds like you are very knowledgeable with this stuff.
A 32700 pack build would be interesting. Please consider a thread about that build.

I’m glad you could interpret the post. I need to stop and check before hitting enter...