Battery Choices
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:51 pm
Having spoken to Ian Goodman about his LiFePO4 batteries at Mansfield I'm curious whether other members have either any knowledge or experience with this type. The figures are very impressive.
Looking at a very comprehensive page on lead acid batteries on the diy electric car website I see that we have a real conundrum with these. If you get deep cycle batteries they are good for travelling along at a steady pace, delivering a good supply of amps until well down. But they're not designed for heavy discharge, such as when setting off from a traffic roundabout in an attempt to join the circus before getting mown down by the rush from the previous entry road. One of these is a daily hazard on my route.
If though you use ordinary car batteries they can cope fine with this, but won't like the 100 or so amps continuous you'll need to maintain speed thereafter.
This suggests to me that to use lead acid you need a set of each, doubling the awful weight penalty which batteries incur.
So what happens in reality ? I'd like to know what you regular EV drivers do, if you're using this old technology that is. Am I taking manufacturers' recommendations too literally here ?
Looking at a very comprehensive page on lead acid batteries on the diy electric car website I see that we have a real conundrum with these. If you get deep cycle batteries they are good for travelling along at a steady pace, delivering a good supply of amps until well down. But they're not designed for heavy discharge, such as when setting off from a traffic roundabout in an attempt to join the circus before getting mown down by the rush from the previous entry road. One of these is a daily hazard on my route.
If though you use ordinary car batteries they can cope fine with this, but won't like the 100 or so amps continuous you'll need to maintain speed thereafter.
This suggests to me that to use lead acid you need a set of each, doubling the awful weight penalty which batteries incur.
So what happens in reality ? I'd like to know what you regular EV drivers do, if you're using this old technology that is. Am I taking manufacturers' recommendations too literally here ?