Build a Battery Pack Vid (How Much $$$)

[George S.]

I have a Shark pack and I know, more or less, what it takes to build a pack. This wouldn't be a huge amount of labor, for someone who knew what they are doing. The packs, empty, are not that expensive, from China. The price of the cells is coming down. You can buy nice Panasonic GA cells for $6 each.

If you add up what these parts and the labor cost, it is closer to $400 than $800.

 

[J.R.]

I'd gladly pay for a durable, off road usable, battery with a warranty than consider going to school trying to build one! One would hope that when you graduate, you'd have a usable battery. You never know though, do you? If not, that becomes $3-400 of useless parts. A DIY battery is a dream I think most of us have had at one point or another in this LEV journey, but for most of us it will never become a reality.

 

[harryS]

I'm sure I could build that battery. Done much more complex stuff in the past. Thing is, for one battery or maybe two, it's not worth it to me to buy or build a spot welder. So I'm OK buying them, unless it turns out I have to buy two annually to run our ebikes.

Problem is, some of the good looking batteries like this one, http://www.cnebikes.com/product/Rear-Rack-Type-Battery4.html, have to be bought from china.

 

[George S.]

The Lifepo packs have long been single series pouch cells. So a 48v 15 ah battery is just one series set of pouches, 13 cells and 15 ah each cell. Thing is, GM and LG are going to use pouch batteries, up to date LiOn chemistry, in the Bolt. Huge factory in Michigan. I think their cell is 25ah. I keep thinking 14 or 13 of these, in series, would make a super ebike battery, but maybe more than most folks want.

I'm happy with my 14s 2p Luna Mini with the Samsung 30q's. I can put it off the handlebar or the top tube or the seat, carry a spare in a waist pack or fanny pack. It doesn't even seem like I have a battery.

Not sure why the AliExpress vendors haven't gotten any traction, at all. I think BMS battery, which has a web store, is now a member here. I looked at spot welder and nickel strips. Right now, I can't see any reason to build a pack.

 

[tomjasz]

I have a Shark pack and I know, more or less, what it takes to build a pack. This wouldn't be a huge amount of labor, for someone who knew what they are doing. The packs, empty, are not that expensive, from China. The price of the cells is coming down. You can buy nice Panasonic GA cells for $6 each.

If you add up what these parts and the labor cost, it is closer to $400 than $800.

Bruno doesn't like the Dolphin, Reention pack and the 5V USB plug. He and I have seen problems with it. But common sense rules and I've never had a problem. Apparently high demand devices were a problem with some packs. That said I saw Shark packs damaged much more easily than Dolphin packs. I bought one of each without batteries and in my opinion the Dolphin is a tougher pack. But not as wide a range of frame fits, especially with dual suspension bikes.
I should take some pictures and clipper measurements. I'd use the Hailong IF i needed to for fit but the Dolphin whenever possible as a first choice.