What is the interest in a complete lithium battery conversion kit

[Muddog]

I've been thinking about converting to lithium. It seems there's a simple way and a not so easy way. You can buy a conversion kit or you can build it yourself. If you buy it ,it's big bucks, near bout $4000.00. If you build it, you better know you stuff or you can burn up a lot of money.
I buy lithium batteries from a manufacturer for another application and asked them if they can produce a 48V battery and they told me they can do that. The cost will be around $3000.00 for: 120amh 48v battery ,BMS, Anderson connector and charger. That does not include charge meter or battery mounting hardware.
Has anybody seen a better price for lithium conversion ?
Would anybody be interested in buying a lithium conversion at that price ?
I am thinking about selling these if there is enough interest.

[glassk]

The ezgo txt pictured had 14 batteries at $118 each. The charger was another $350. Figure maybe $40 for materials. It's not the cheapest lithium conversion but it packed a heck of a punch and run time.

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/extre...ml#post1079715

That is over in Extreme DC,

[gravelydude]

Hi Mud,

I see that no one else is responding, so I'll give it a go. I have a primitive cart (CC DS - 1985 with resistor coil speed control). This cart was inherited from my wife's Grandmother.

I converted it to lithium three or four months ago. I am using CALB lithium iron phosphate cells. Not sure what chemistry you are going with in your system. Cost of my batteries was about $1/AH. I am using 13 cells for a voltage between 36 and 48. A 48 volt system would have cost me about $1600 for the cells and battery strap connectors. I have bottom balanced my cells within 1/100th of a volt, and am not using a BMS. Presently, I am using the original charger (36V Lester), and am having to cut-off manually at 45-46 volts. I am working on a automatic cutoff to terminate the charger power at 45 volts (3.5 volts per cell).

I think that $3,000 for a 48 volt 120 AH system with BMS and charger is a good price point; but there are many variables. Battery chemistry, warranty, BMS methodology are all factors. I am not a fan of BMS, but a reliable, economical system could convince me. Careful bottom balancing, and avoiding overcharging eliminate the need in my opinion. It works for me, but BMS would probably be required for a mass produced system.

Just my limited personal experience. I can tell you that I truly believe that Lead is Dead. Too heavy, too little cycle life, too little useful SOC. Long live lithium!

Jack

I am very happy with my lithium conversion; mostly because of greatly improved uphill performance. I also changed all my cables to 2 gauge, and installed a HD F/R switch from Scotty.

[El Camino]

I would like to see more about lithium power. I'm starting a new CC project and would like to go lithium, I'v to got buy new batteries anyway. Right now basically all it has is 4 12v (dead) wiring and a motor, everything else is missing.

[gravelydude]

Do a search on BGW for lithium, and you will find several good threads. Most are using "Nissan Leaf" batteries. When I get a chance to take some pictures, and refine my cart a little more, I will document with a thread of my own.

Jack

[El Camino]

Thank you

[Muddog]

Thanks for the feedback. I understand you can DIY for a lot less. Not everybody has the ability or the time for this, so I was just throwing it out there to see if there was any interest in a turnkey system. There's a few websites that sell them, but they're round the $4K mark.
I was leaning toward DIY, but was hoping some my oversea sources could build them at a marketable price. That's not happening, but I'm not sure if I working the right sources. It seems to me they can be built for less. I going to give it another shoot, but communications is not easy, most no speak English and they are 12 hours ahead so it's late into the night for me.
Here I go.
Thanks, Muddog

[superfreaker]

I'd be interested at $3K. I think I could build it myself, but I want safety above everything. Something, tested, drop in and plug n play would be golden. I think there would be others buying at that price point to start and more as word spreads about the kit.

I haven't found anything similar yet. Though, I would want a meter/dash readout at that price.

[Volt_Ampere]

What batteries would you be using for this kit??????

[Mikefili]

A true switch out kit would be very desirable at that price point, even though my cart is 2 years old I would hate to put lead acid back in if there was a do it yourself kit that was available. I do know that some guys here can build almost anything most of us are capable to do a kit switch out. I for one would hate to do acid again if a kit existed. And remembering the lead batteries are not free so the cost is worth it