Comments on: Lithium Ion Polymer Motorcycle Batteries http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Thu, 24 May 2012 21:52:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: GenWaylaid http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68068 GenWaylaid Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:28:48 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68068 Electric car batteries, these aren't. The price for bare Li-ion cells currently sits between $1 and $2 per watt-hour. Even the largest of these motorcycle batteries sells for over $5 a watt-hour. The weight is similarly double that of bare cells of equal capacity. The size is more compact than a DIY battery pack, and the price and weight are partially explained by the need to have a durable casing for automotive use. At that price nobody's going to be buying the 100 or so that would be required for an electric car or even the 30 to 40 required for an electric motorcycle with decent range. There's a serious potential issue with drawing high amps from Lithium cells, for instance to power a starter motor. The "thermal runaway" that led to that recall of Dell laptop batteries, which is also related to the problems Palegreenhorse mentioned, could cause a battery fire. All conventional Lithium batteries require thermal and/or current regulation to avoid bursting into flames. As batteries for gas-powered motorcycles, these are overkill unless you have a large engine and lots of electronics going. Electric car batteries, these aren’t. The price for bare Li-ion cells currently sits between $1 and $2 per watt-hour. Even the largest of these motorcycle batteries sells for over $5 a watt-hour. The weight is similarly double that of bare cells of equal capacity. The size is more compact than a DIY battery pack, and the price and weight are partially explained by the need to have a durable casing for automotive use.

At that price nobody’s going to be buying the 100 or so that would be required for an electric car or even the 30 to 40 required for an electric motorcycle with decent range.

There’s a serious potential issue with drawing high amps from Lithium cells, for instance to power a starter motor. The “thermal runaway” that led to that recall of Dell laptop batteries, which is also related to the problems Palegreenhorse mentioned, could cause a battery fire. All conventional Lithium batteries require thermal and/or current regulation to avoid bursting into flames.

As batteries for gas-powered motorcycles, these are overkill unless you have a large engine and lots of electronics going.

]]> By: RH http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68052 RH Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:42:10 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68052 People pay a whole lot more than that for titanium parts that remove a whole lot less weight. People pay a whole lot more than that for titanium parts that remove a whole lot less weight.

]]> By: todd http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68034 todd Fri, 02 Feb 2007 20:38:34 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68034 I think the money is better spent on a mechanic who can actually tune the bike to start right up instead of after a couple minutes of cranking.... -todd I think the money is better spent on a mechanic who can actually tune the bike to start right up instead of after a couple minutes of cranking….

-todd

]]> By: Chris http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68030 Chris Fri, 02 Feb 2007 19:54:05 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68030 A cure for the electic car? A cure for the electic car?

]]> By: palegreenhorse http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68017 palegreenhorse Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:16:56 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/02/02/lithium-ion-polymer-motorcycle-batteries/#comment-68017 i'll be curious to see if these catch on. the potential for problems in terms of the charging circuitry is a bit worrisome (overcharging or incorrectly charging could mean hydrogen evolution or lithium zero instead of lithium ion which gets explosive with any moisture). but the good thing is that there are only 3-4 cells instead of 6 to get to 12 volts and the light & small aspect is awesome. i’ll be curious to see if these catch on. the potential for problems in terms of the charging circuitry is a bit worrisome (overcharging or incorrectly charging could mean hydrogen evolution or lithium zero instead of lithium ion which gets explosive with any moisture). but the good thing is that there are only 3-4 cells instead of 6 to get to 12 volts and the light & small aspect is awesome.

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