[TexomaEV]

I'm running flooded lead acid, and just bought a set of AGM batteries, for a second string of batteries to my EV. I plan on having both strings feeding the controller. Hoping the AGM string (72vdc) will handle most of the high amp draw during deadstarts, and the FLOODED string (78vdc) will help with the overall range once at cruising speed, and top off the AGM's when idle. We've been discussing this sort of arrangement on the EVDL just recently.

 

[moldiebrownie]

Fifteen 8volt (120v) floodies from US battery. They also gave me a special carrying strap (bottom right of photo) and a whole box of stainless steel mounting hardware..neat! http://www.usbattery.com/pages/8vgolf.htm Batteries all came with speed caps which facilitates watering but I had to trade 5 in for single caps because they got in the way of some of my battery interconnects. I also got "L" terminals for lower resistance connections http://www.usbattery.com/pages/usbterminals.htm

When the local battery guy came by to deliver them...he asked where I wanted them and I pointed to a spot on my concrete garage floor that I cleared off for them. He asked if I wanted to throw down some cardboard or maybe some wood planks....I said no..thats ok...why?..acid or something? He said he had heard that if you place batteries on cement, they could discharge faster!? He didn't seem too confident saying this...sounds like an old wives tale! I subsequently spoke to a US battery guy on the phone and he got a good chuckle over it saying that this urban legend has been around for years!

 

[Mr. Sharkey]

It wasn't an "urban legend" back in the days when battery cases were constructed of rubber compounds. The moisture of the concrete, along with the inherent acidity of cement actually would cause discharge of any cells left sitting for an extended period.

Once battery cases were constructed of plastics, the discharge problem was no longer observed. Good thing, too, because I have four Rolls S-460 350 Ah, 6 volt batteries sitting on the floor of my garage, waiting to be put into an enclosure on my solar power system.

 

[moldiebrownie]

It wasn't an "urban legend" back in the days when battery cases were constructed of rubber compounds. The moisture of the concrete, along with the inherent acidity of cement actually would cause discharge of any cells left sitting for an extended period.

Once battery cases were constructed of plastics, the discharge problem was no longer observed. Good thing, too, because I have four Rolls S-460 350 Ah, 6 volt batteries sitting on the floor of my garage, waiting to be put into an enclosure on my solar power system.

Yeah yeah!....now that you mention it Mr. Sharkey...I do remeber this fellow telling me something about how batteries used to be constructed of rubber cases (conversation was many months ago) and this was indeed a problem. Well, Im glad that we no longer have this one thing to worry about anymore. BTW...loved your bit in "Cool Fuel" ...real celibrity here folks!

 

[Mr. Sharkey]

Aw, geez, that thing? CoolFuel Roadtrip? Those Aussies were making it up as they went along. Every time I watch the DVD of episode two I cringe. I posted a few pages of the inside story of that encounter: EV Pusher Meets the Eco-Trekker.

 

[moldiebrownie]

Aw, geez, that thing? CoolFuel Roadtrip? Those Aussies were making it up as they went along. Every time I watch the DVD of episode two I cringe. I posted a few pages of the inside story of that encounter: EV Pusher Meets the Eco-Trekker.

I had seen this post before and the series appeared again on another cable channel we suscribe to and upon the next viewing really noticed how scripted it all seemed. I figured...,"all well...as long as they are educating people to the used of alternative fuels and electric vehicles...its all good".

 

[Ima-Gin]

I'm new to this, so forgive me if it's a stupid question..but why don't more people use Lithium Ion? That seems to be working really well in these cars, although it seems like they do cost a fortune.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster

 

[Mannyman]

Looks like you answered your own question.

 

[sedonix]

My best hope for the future of modern transportation is the batteries this spin-off from caterpiller is working on. firefly.com With luck, maybe they will have the EV version ready by the time my regular batts wear out.

 

[Mannyman]

Not anytime soon. Hopefully a battery maker licenses their tech.
If you email them the response isn't as enthusiastic as you'd might hope.

My EV club asked if they wanted to be a part of an EV technology event and amateur drag race and the response was as follows:

Thanks for your inquiry. While we’d love to compete in this, we’re working on a couple of batteries that are optimized for applications different than EV. I’d love to know how it turns out, so please let me know when the event occurs so I can read the news.


Best regards, Mil

Mil Ovan
Sr. VP & Co-founder
Firefly Energy Inc.
5407 N. University Street, Arbor Hall
Peoria, IL 61614
Peoria: 309-690-7502
Chicago: 630-592-9601
Cell: 847-687-0901
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fireflyenergy.com

 

[sedonix]

Ya, its gonna be awhile. I'm not holding my breath. But I don't see any of the other technologies getting affordable any time soon either. At least this one make good sense. Their business model is to get established in the outdoor power tool market, but they do talk like they have the EV market in mind - later.

Greg

 

[jrab]

Started out with wet cells (US125? that was a long time ago). Replaced the pack when they started to randomly die about 3 years later. Hated them. Watering was a complete pain, corrosion became an issue. But charging was easy and the range was great.

Replaced with flooded Nicads. Range dropped considerably (smaller pack due to the set being smaller). Performance also dropped for the same 120v pack. The STM100's can't deliver as many amps as a fat lead wet cell for as long. Charging went from dumb to more precise with an old Brusa charger and a Nicad profile.

Replaced Nicad with Odyssey sealed lead acids. Still under evaluation. I'm having charger problems, and since the charge needs to be regulated both at the bulk charge with a specific profile and at each battery with regs, things have gotten more complicated.

 

[ohio]

my batterys are doing great so far

 

[Greenflight]

Using good old Interstate U2200s. Held up good for the couple months I've been using them.

 

[Cornelius]

My S-10 uses 24 Deka GC-15 lead acid batteries. 20 under the pickup bed, and 4 under the hood.

 

[KiwiEV]

Thought this would be incredibly valuable information for anyone thinking of using Gel type batteries.

"A downside to gel batteries is that there is a maximum charging voltage of 14.1 volts."

Just read it on this page here.
I was thinking of using gel type batteries too, but considering the voltage of my charger with an open circuit is about 15 to 16 volts, this would probably shorten the gel battery life incredibly.
Having learnt that you can only charge gel batteries at a maximum of 14.1 volts means I won't be using gel batteries. I think it'll be floodies all the way.
Thank heavens I found that article as I have a quote on the way for gel batteries and am getting ready to purchase!
Whew!

 

[kittydog42]

There are not too many gel batteries available anyway. You should look into AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries as an alternative to gel if you don't want to use flooded batteries. Lots of people use AGM batteries.

 

[jrab]

AGMs really require a specific charge too. Sure, all these batteries will take what ever you give them - for awhile. Going back to the charger, if it's not programmable or a solid cc/cv charger with set limits, you should stick to wet cells which can take a lot more abuse. The odyssey battery specifies no more than 14.7 V, but dump as much current into it as you can. A dumb charger isn't going to care - it'll keep floating the voltage up until the battery self regulates. Wet cells will offgas and keep fairly happy (not that you should overcharge too much though!). AGMs or gels will cook. Good, affordable battery management is the missing link for all DIY EVs, regardless of battery chemistry.