What batteries are best/cheapest for a golf cart?

[Dodo]

I need to get new batteries for my old golf cart, what batteries are best or cheapest? Thanks.

 

[Barbar0ssa]

I went on Alibaba and got quotes for 100a lifepo4 cells for $550 to deliver 16 to Ohio. You would still need a bms.

 

[G8trwood]

Trying to figure this out also. Looking at some 48v dropins, but some companies seem to be playing games with descriptions. 48v will be a 48v max and a 13-14s vs a LiFePo4 16s, almost more of a 36v battery when being marketed at Golf Carts. Ideally 140-180ah. Used off road.
Need 200a continuous. Fortune cells seem ideal for vibration scenarios, but only 100ah.... oh the choices

 

[Barbar0ssa]

If you are willing to build your own, consider reaching out to @Michael B Caro and asking about 16 of his Coslight 150ah cells. They are 3C rated so you can deliver a lot of power. (16*3.2*150*3 = 23040w continuous discharge / 746 = 30.88hp!)

They are definitely not drop-in replacement. For that you'll have to look into something like 4 X Battleborn for about 4X the cost.

 

[Michael B Caro]

We are currently coming out with a line of LifePo4 drop in ready batteries, Big Boss Batteries, with a built in bms, digital voltage display, and a 2 year warranty.
Our initial offering is now ready to ship, but is not suitable for Golf Cart applications.

We are currently developing drop in ready batteries specifically for Golf Cart applications, both in terms of discharge rates and in regards to physical dimensions. We hope to have them ready to ship some time towards the end of this month and will be priced right.

I am, shall we say....frugal, and expect most everyone else to be as well and these will be at a price point that even I would buy them lol
and will still be a quality product.

 

[G8trwood]

If you are willing to build your own, consider reaching out to @Michael B Caro and asking about 16 of his Coslight 150ah cells. They are 3C rated so you can deliver a lot of power. (16*3.2*150*3 = 23040w continuous discharge / 746 = 30.88hp!)

They are definitely not drop-in replacement. For that you'll have to look into something like 4 X Battleborn for about 4X the cost.

No problem on building my own and leaning that way. Have an Orion bms and lester charger I could use

 

[G8trwood]

We are currently coming out with a line of LifePo4 drop in ready batteries, Big Boss Batteries, with a built in bms, digital voltage display, and a 2 year warranty.
Our initial offering is now ready to ship, but is not suitable for Golf Cart applications.

We are currently developing drop in ready batteries specifically for Golf Cart applications, both in terms of discharge rates and in regards to physical dimensions. We hope to have them ready to ship some time towards the end of this month and will be priced right.

I am, shall we say....frugal, and expect most everyone else to be as well and these will be at a price point that even I would buy them lol
and will still be a quality product.

Thank you,
I will look for your updates. I have seen a number of complaints on some of the current dropins getting complaints for lack of voltage (13-14S) or tripping the overcurrent protection as they are only 100-150continuous amps. I can easily hit 200 amps going up a hill with my fat self and a fat dog or two...

 

[Michael B Caro]

No problem on building my own and leaning that way. Have an Orion bms and lester charger I could use

My Coslight cells would be great for this application.

 

[Michael B Caro]

Thank you,
I will look for your updates. I have seen a number of complaints on some of the current dropins getting complaints for lack of voltage (13-14S) or tripping the overcurrent protection as they are only 100-150continuous amps. I can easily hit 200 amps going up a hill with my fat self and a fat dog or two...

Which is why we are making sure that people know that our initial Big Boss Batteries are not suitable for Golf Cart applications, and we are developing drop in batteries specifically for Golf Carts.

But, if you are comfortable building your own, the Cosllight 150ah cells are really nice.
They come with factory standard M8 studs and they are capacity tested and matched at the factory from among cells from the same manufacturing batch.

 

[G8trwood]

Good specs on those and I like the terminal design.

Are these the cells for your planned cart battery? And just curious, metal case? I can always save the bms for another project..lol. Also a dropin would be great for the father in law, but he is more frugal than me.
Thanks for the info

 

[Michael B Caro]

Good specs on those and I like the terminal design.

Are these the cells for your planned cart battery? And just curious, metal case? I can always save the bms for another project..lol.
Thanks for the info

We are still testing cells and prototype packs, to see which will be the best cells to use for the Golf Cart applications....while also looking at long term availability of the cells. The Coslights may or may not be available at the right price long term and we do not want to have to switch horses mid stream. We are talking to the factory and trying to get some assurances.

Yes, the Coslight 150ah cells are Prismatic cells with a PVC covering on them (the current batch does have some small air bubbles under the pvc here and there but that does not effect their performance at all).

 

[G8trwood]

By drop in do you mean one 48v running one bms or smaller linked 48v or 12v. Or TBD

 

[Michael B Caro]

testing a lot of options, but probably going to be 48v running one bms.
Although we are always open to feedback and/or custom orders.
Input from knowledgeable people on what they think would be the best option is particularly welcome right now as we are testing the different options

 

[G8trwood]

Thanks, it might just come down to what the different battery bay configurations allows. But simple is good and less modules seems to equate to less price. Some folks putting 3-4 48v modules in a cart are dropping serious coin and hopefully getting their performance. for the hotrod crowd and 72v folks, they just want mo power.
I did notice one company went away from 12v modules as there were allegedly balancing issues and now they have 48v modules. I don’t know the details of the issue. People are scouting the new leaf 7s3p modules so they should get crazy expensive soon, lol, the way of the world.

I will try and figure out how to send a p.m. about your cells and possible timeline on drop in modules

 

[Barbar0ssa]

It is unlikely that I will be able to fit someone else's 48v battery in my cart. Too many things slicing up my battery bay.

I just bought the coslight cells ?

 

[Barbar0ssa]

I will try and figure out how to send a p.m. about your cells and possible timeline on drop in modules

click his avatar next to one of his posts and then click "Start conversation"

 

[Barbar0ssa]

Now I need to figure out the BMS. It seems a shame to slap a 100a bms on a pack that can continuously deliver 450a!

 

[G8trwood]

click his avatar next to one of his posts and then click "Start conversation"

Lol, that is a hot.....

mine looked pretty close to that before it died and then I updated the guts. I think the golf carts are breeding in Florida

 

[G8trwood]

Now I need to figure out the BMS. It seems a shame to slap a 100a bms on a pack that can continuously deliver 450a!

Use the bms and relays to trigger a power and charging contactor. Charging current runs through bms, but not power. Some shunts will still connect sensors to bms

 

[Michael B Caro]

Now I need to figure out the BMS. It seems a shame to slap a 100a bms on a pack that can continuously deliver 450a!

If you like Daly bms's, we can ship one with the cells