deckofficer
New Member
I'm new to e bikes but have a long history building and racing EVs (electric vehicles). I wonder why some of the well engineered and competitively priced (due to economies of scale) components that we use aren't being used in the custom build e-bikes?
I understand the rules for e-bikes, and limitations of the build, but just on the topic of batteries I would think some folks would embrace what the EV suppliers can provide.
Case in point, Hi Power Cycles offer a 52 volt nominal, 12.5 ahr Li-NMC battery pack for $799 that weighs 12 lbs. I can assemble using LiFePO4 prismatic cells a 52 volt, 10.5 ahr pack for $270 that weighs 9.6 lbs with a cycle life of 3000. Discharge at 3C is normal continuous for these cells, so can deliver 1638 watts to the controller. When building your own battery banks, you can scale to your needs. If 10.5 ahr and 1638 watts isn't enough, just buy twice as many cells for a 16S2P pack and you have 21 ahr, 3276 watts for $540 and 19.2 lbs. Whr would be 1092.
On the topic of controllers, Alltrax offers controllers that are software configured by your PC for all parameters, what could be sweeter than that for the DIY folks that are always swapping motors, battery banks and different throttles?
Can someone in the know tell me why the e-bike DIY folks aren't using what is available to the general EV crowd?
I understand the rules for e-bikes, and limitations of the build, but just on the topic of batteries I would think some folks would embrace what the EV suppliers can provide.
Case in point, Hi Power Cycles offer a 52 volt nominal, 12.5 ahr Li-NMC battery pack for $799 that weighs 12 lbs. I can assemble using LiFePO4 prismatic cells a 52 volt, 10.5 ahr pack for $270 that weighs 9.6 lbs with a cycle life of 3000. Discharge at 3C is normal continuous for these cells, so can deliver 1638 watts to the controller. When building your own battery banks, you can scale to your needs. If 10.5 ahr and 1638 watts isn't enough, just buy twice as many cells for a 16S2P pack and you have 21 ahr, 3276 watts for $540 and 19.2 lbs. Whr would be 1092.
On the topic of controllers, Alltrax offers controllers that are software configured by your PC for all parameters, what could be sweeter than that for the DIY folks that are always swapping motors, battery banks and different throttles?
Can someone in the know tell me why the e-bike DIY folks aren't using what is available to the general EV crowd?
