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Old 12-01-2013, 02:53 PM   #113 (permalink)
mechman600
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I visited a guy in Calgary a few weeks ago who did an FZR400 EV conversion. I know him because I sold him a Kelly charger on eBay. He told me that his lithium pack goes out of balance every single time he rides the bike. He thinks it is because the front cells are cooled by the wind, while the rear cells are heated by the motor, making their temperatures vary significantly. He made his own BMS for cheap, but he is an electrical engineer.

That being said, a lithium pack will normally stay balanced on its own for quite a while. But it will need a re-balance one in a while, which is time consuming. I think an EV should take care of itself with no tinkering required.

Also, why spend $10K on a battery pack and not $800-1000 on a BMS system? It seems like an insignificant amount for some insurance.
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