Need inexpensive battery options.

[blueflame]

I bought a complete 1500w 48v chinese scooter with 4 dead 12v 20ah batterys.

The guy who sold it too me for $200 was using a 36volt charger? Duh!

New batts in NZ are around $450

I need a new charger too.

Any option ideas? LiIon looks good but I cant even source a charger here in NZ.

I have an unlimited access to used car batts for cheap from my car battery mate, maybe he will order some of the smaller new 20ah sla's for me trade price plus 10% if I speak to him nicely...

If the scoot was 24v I'd remake the battery compartments(2) and use 2 small car batteries. It would cost me $40NZ ($20US) for 2 older batts.

4 is 2 too many to fit under the seat and plastics, weight too.

Ideas anyone? I dont like retail prices, they make me ill.

[Christopher Jordan]

Originally Posted by blueflame

I bought a complete 1500w 48v .......

All you have to do is change the name to 48V CityEL, or for that matter a 36V E-Pod. Right now only my 24V TerraTrike is dependable.

The deep cell 12V x 4 + $1200 = tax.

A 36V lithium battery is available tomorrow- one small problem - $800.

Talk about being ill !

[Christ]

Motorcycle/4wheeler/garden tractor/lawnmower batteries.

[blueflame]

Why is a smallish 20ah sealed lead acid battery twice the price of a car 80ah lead acid?

Market forces....

[whitewiz]

how about 4x 12v motorcycle batteries? they're about 1/2 the size of a car battery

[blueflame]

And still over twice the price

[Daox]

Possibly ask around at a scooter repair shop (or sale shop). See if they got any used batteries you could try? Its gonna be next to impossible to find something else that small. They just aren't used for anything. The only exception I can think of would be powered children's toys. 'Power wheels' come to mind.

[akashic]

Yeah, I was just looking at PowerWheels in fact. Wal-Mart sells a 12V battery for $50. 10Ah if I remember correctly from seeing them at the store.

[akashic]

Is there some reason not to use NiCads? Because I often find NiCad power tools and battery packs in the clearance section of various stores.

[Daox]

You could use them. They're usually just expensive and have low capacity. The new Li-ions have around 1.5Ah which is not gonna carry you very far. But, if you could get enough of them you could always wire them in parallel.