After 12 years the pack in my EV is down to around 70%, so time to make it a home pack and put a new pack in. Current pack is 45 x Winston 160 Ahr LiFePO4's, configured in 8x3 in the front and 13+8 in the back.
Easy option is to try to replace it with the same form factor cells, as this will save building new battery boxes. However I noticed I can probably get CATL 280 Hr in a similar space, for a significant increase in range and only a small (20%) additional price.
So the question - does anyone have experience with buying batteries direct from o/s (ie China, or via Hong Kong), who did you use, and how did you find them? Eg I have been in touch with EV Lithium - anyone used them, how did it go?
I am also cautious about copy cells - I have seen cells made by other brands that look exactly like the CATLs.
Any advice/experience appreciated.
Lithium battery supplier - experience??
- jonescg
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- Real Name: Chris Jones
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Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
Hi Malcolm! The cells might last a long time, but will the BMW?
There's been a few makers of Li-NMC cells which might be a good fit with the existing battery boxes for the car. Might not be an exact fit, so packing it out with sheets of polypropylene or something would work.
A few of us have tried working with the LiYuan cells that Jack Zhang sells.
http://www.liyuanbattery.com.cn/en/prod ... 81261.html
They're OK, but perhaps not as powerful as they claim. Energy density checks out though - well over 210 Wh/kg.
Steve Gates bought some recently for his Silvia upgrade.
Maybe put two of the 94 Ah cells in parallel?
https://www.evlithium.com/hot-lithium-battery/845.html
There's been a few makers of Li-NMC cells which might be a good fit with the existing battery boxes for the car. Might not be an exact fit, so packing it out with sheets of polypropylene or something would work.
A few of us have tried working with the LiYuan cells that Jack Zhang sells.
http://www.liyuanbattery.com.cn/en/prod ... 81261.html
They're OK, but perhaps not as powerful as they claim. Energy density checks out though - well over 210 Wh/kg.
Steve Gates bought some recently for his Silvia upgrade.
Maybe put two of the 94 Ah cells in parallel?
https://www.evlithium.com/hot-lithium-battery/845.html
AEVA National President, returning WA branch chair.
- leadwings
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- Real Name: Malcolm Reeson
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Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
Thanks Chris. Yes I reckon the BMW has a few years left in it! It looks like I may be able to get the CATL 280 Ahrs in, which would be a big boost in range.
Ive never really looked at the NMC chemestry - is it as safe as LiFePO4?
Have you (or anyone) ever had any dealings with EVLithium?
Ive never really looked at the NMC chemestry - is it as safe as LiFePO4?
Have you (or anyone) ever had any dealings with EVLithium?
Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
I have had experience with EVLithium.
I have 41 x 100AH CALB cells in my conversion. It appeared I had one cell not performing very well. I decided to order 2 cells from EVLithium and keep one cell as a spare.
In July 2020 I contacted EVLithium (Ms Elsa Liu) to obtain a price and she advised me they had a minimum order quantity of 20 so they could not help. I replied and asked if I increased my order to 5 cells could they decrease their MOQ to 5. She replied and said that 5 cells would be ok. She sent me an invoice for 5 with a 14 day delivery window. I strongly doubted there would be a 14 day delivery! I mentally prepared myself to contact them in a month to obtain a delivery update.
The items arrived in Sydney within 11 days!
Of course it took another 20 days for the items to get through customs before they got to my place.
I had no problems at all with EVLithium.
Regards
Paul
I have 41 x 100AH CALB cells in my conversion. It appeared I had one cell not performing very well. I decided to order 2 cells from EVLithium and keep one cell as a spare.
In July 2020 I contacted EVLithium (Ms Elsa Liu) to obtain a price and she advised me they had a minimum order quantity of 20 so they could not help. I replied and asked if I increased my order to 5 cells could they decrease their MOQ to 5. She replied and said that 5 cells would be ok. She sent me an invoice for 5 with a 14 day delivery window. I strongly doubted there would be a 14 day delivery! I mentally prepared myself to contact them in a month to obtain a delivery update.
The items arrived in Sydney within 11 days!
Of course it took another 20 days for the items to get through customs before they got to my place.
I had no problems at all with EVLithium.
Regards
Paul
- brendon_m
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- Real Name: Brendon McCarrol
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
I got some quotes a while back for a project and they were pretty responsive, though I never placed an order.
Interestingly I got a spam email (on a different email address) from them yesterday. Apparently they saw my Moke on EValbum and wanted to know if I wanted cells for my project
Interestingly I got a spam email (on a different email address) from them yesterday. Apparently they saw my Moke on EValbum and wanted to know if I wanted cells for my project
-
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- Real Name: Terry Covill
- Location: Mannum SA
Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
Trev and Marcy @ http://www.thebackshed.com/basiclynatural/ would have the 160Ah cells in stock, if that helps .....leadwings wrote: ↑Sat, 07 Aug 2021, 11:58 After 12 years the pack in my EV is down to around 70%, so time to make it a home pack and put a new pack in. Current pack is 45 x Winston 160 Ahr LiFePO4's, configured in 8x3 in the front and 13+8 in the back.
Easy option is to try to replace it with the same form factor cells, as this will save building new battery boxes. However I noticed I can probably get CATL 280 Hr in a similar space, for a significant increase in range and only a small (20%) additional price.
So the question - does anyone have experience with buying batteries direct from o/s (ie China, or via Hong Kong), who did you use, and how did you find them? Eg I have been in touch with EV Lithium - anyone used them, how did it go?
I am also cautious about copy cells - I have seen cells made by other brands that look exactly like the CATLs.
Any advice/experience appreciated.
T1 Terry
Green but want to learn
- leadwings
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- Real Name: Malcolm Reeson
- Location: Perth
Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
Thanks Terry.
-
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Thu, 30 Sep 2010, 20:11
- Real Name: Terry Covill
- Location: Mannum SA
Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
The lady from OSN power contacted me today with more info about getting my LTO cells off the ship and out of the container and through customs ..... the first one from a new supplier is always the hardest ..... anyway ..... they are selling LFP cells ranging from 50Ah to 165Ah, still waiting on a price and test specs, but I can forward them onto you if you like ....
T1 Terry
Green but want to learn
- leadwings
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Re: Lithium battery supplier - experience??
That would be great if you could please Terry - I'll send you a PM with my e-mail address.