Any decent Chinese brand cells yet?

[Bonzo Banana]

I notice many lower cost ebikes are using more basic Chinese cells and people are reviewing such bikes quite positively. Are there now recognised Chinese brands that do a decent basic cell? If not 18650 perhaps 21700? We aren't talking high end performance here just a good quality reliable cell with perhaps mid-level performance that allows for cheaper battery packs. When I bought my original 48V battery pack which was in a Hailong case it came with Samsung 2500mAh cells that were good quality and safe just not class leading performance. I'm seeing such battery packs now without the brand of cell being mentioned and again people seem happy with them. Are 21700 cells typically better or less likely to be fake than 18650?

 

[Nealh]

A few are being mentioned.
Not quite China but Taiwanese and a top cell equal to the biggest players is a little known brand Molicel, it is regarded as an exceptional cell brand and prices are much the same as other top brands

From the mainland it self.
BAK 18650cnp it's performance is a good as the Sam 25r and half the price. One of China biggest brands.
Eve is another possible brand, the 33v cell is 10a 3100mah.
Sinowatt 25sp is another Sam 25r type cell. Made in their on Shenzen factory.
Sinwatt 30sp similar to Sam 30q.

Resistance sub 15 ohms and capacity retention looks good but as yet no real world testing from the guys who carry out independent testing.

 

[Bonzo Banana]

A few are being mentioned.
Not quite China but Taiwanese and a top cell equal to the biggest players is a little known brand Molicel, it is regarded as an exceptional cell brand and prices are much the same as other top brands

From the mainland it self.
BAK 18650cnp it's performance is a good as the Sam 25r and half the price. One of China biggest brands.
Eve is another possible brand, the 33v cell is 10a 3100mah.
Sinowatt 25sp is another Sam 25r type cell. Made in their on Shenzen factory.
Sinwatt 30sp similar to Sam 30q.

Resistance sub 15 ohms and capacity retention looks good but as yet no real world testing from the guys who carry out independent testing.

I had a look at the BAK cell and it looks decent although prices seemed higher than I was expecting but I think that is just the typical increase of such parts, perhaps a little while ago prices would have been more competitive. I sort of wonder if the companies on Aliexpress that claim Samsung cells but re-wrap them are actually selling the BAK cells if they are very similar in performance.

 

[Nealh]

Wholesale prices one can get the cells for at the mo are;
Moli p26a £2.99.
BAK 18650CNP was £2.15 vs £2.55 for Sam 25r.
EVE33 £1.75.
Sinowatt 25sp was £1.70
Sinowatt 30sp £2.35 vs £3.25 for Sam 30q.

I only buy genuine cells from a UK warehouse who pull out the all the strings to buy and test for genuine cells.

 

[Bonzo Banana]

Wholesale prices one can get the cells for at the mo are;
Moli p26a £2.99.
BAK 18650CNP was £2.15 vs £2.55 for Sam 25r.
EVE33 £1.75.
Sinowatt 25sp was £1.70
Sinowatt 30sp £2.35 vs £3.25 for Sam 30q.

I only buy genuine cells from a UK warehouse who pull out the all the strings to buy and test for genuine cells.

I just defaulted to looking at aliexpress. Which UK warehouse do you use?

 

[Nealh]

One can't tell on ali what is real or not.
Fogstar wholesale, min spend is £70 so should cover most complete battery builds, other wise one has to go to the retail site which is twice the cost.

I can't fault the service and cells arrive very quickly if in stock.

 

[Bonzo Banana]

One can't tell on ali what is real or not.
Fogstar wholesale, min spend is £70 so should cover most complete battery builds, other wise one has to go to the retail site which is twice the cost.

I can't fault the service and cells arrive very quickly if in stock.

That is a very good site with a lot of useful data too about various battery cells. Thanks.

 

[Nealh]

I'm on there mailing list so get info when new cells are in stock and also warnings about fakes doing the rounds.