Currently the E-trike is fitted with 4 x 12 v 12ah SLA batteries ( 2 each side of the recumbent seat ) apart from the 2 main disadvantages of weight ( 17kgs ) and reduced capacity at the 1 hour rate of 7.2 ah approximately they work and happily give a range of 15 miles per charge .
I can increase the range using additional SLA batteries and get around the silly weight limit imposed by the UK Lawmakers of 60kgs for the trike by towing another set of ( free 30ah ) batteries in a purpose built trailer giving a range of 70 miles in addition to the 15 miles at a penalty of another 50 kgs , The 3 brakes are still more than adequate , the twin front disc brakes will haul me to a stop well within the required distances . but all this is making the trike heavier and heavier . (85 mile range is overkill )
Having looked around the forum and looked at the various types of batteries and the cost they all seem to turn out around the £400 mark for a set of 48 v 10ah batteries to replace the (£90 per set ) SLA's currently in use , I am looking to replace the SLA during the summer months when the need for bigger capacity will become necessary for longer journeys in the better weather . 10 ah ( real 10ah ) lipo/lifepo4 batteries will increase the
range by 25% giving about 20 miles per charge .
Any suggestions are welcome on this subject , I can sort the problem myself given the information
but having retired a couple of years ago there is not the money in the pot to lash out on a prebuilt pack and in the past few years I have lost contact with the improvements in battery design .
One answer is to go the model aircraft route of lipos or lifepo4 and use 13 or 14 s2p ( we use these in electric powered model rc planes ) but this will need a specialist BMS system or charger .
Any thoughts on this problem are welcome .
regards emma
I can increase the range using additional SLA batteries and get around the silly weight limit imposed by the UK Lawmakers of 60kgs for the trike by towing another set of ( free 30ah ) batteries in a purpose built trailer giving a range of 70 miles in addition to the 15 miles at a penalty of another 50 kgs , The 3 brakes are still more than adequate , the twin front disc brakes will haul me to a stop well within the required distances . but all this is making the trike heavier and heavier . (85 mile range is overkill )
Having looked around the forum and looked at the various types of batteries and the cost they all seem to turn out around the £400 mark for a set of 48 v 10ah batteries to replace the (£90 per set ) SLA's currently in use , I am looking to replace the SLA during the summer months when the need for bigger capacity will become necessary for longer journeys in the better weather . 10 ah ( real 10ah ) lipo/lifepo4 batteries will increase the
range by 25% giving about 20 miles per charge .
Any suggestions are welcome on this subject , I can sort the problem myself given the information
but having retired a couple of years ago there is not the money in the pot to lash out on a prebuilt pack and in the past few years I have lost contact with the improvements in battery design .
One answer is to go the model aircraft route of lipos or lifepo4 and use 13 or 14 s2p ( we use these in electric powered model rc planes ) but this will need a specialist BMS system or charger .
Any thoughts on this problem are welcome .
regards emma
