Headway Headquarters *WARNING*

frodus said:

Hey Jim,

Other than selling these batteries, what do you really know about lithium batteries besides what is on the datasheets? Have any discharge tests that you've performed? Do you have any direct experience with them in a vehicle? Who provides your technical support?

What DID happen to the EVComponents headway inventory?

Click to expand...

Hello Travis,

Well the first question is somewhat of a loaded question is it not? With being aware of who you are, it seems to me that no matter what I answer “it will not be enough” of a good answer, but I will do my best to answer your question(s).



Not solely depending on the claims of individuals or individual companies about their cells I first did my own research to learning about the chemistry, from the beginnings with Dr. John Goodenough and the team at University of Texas to being compared to other lithium based cathode chemistries. Have you had the opportunity to watch Dr. Whitacre’s recent short lecture on LiFePO4? Very informative!

http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php/lecture-lifepo4-cells-52773.html

There has also been some valuable information that I have found here on DIY from the members here.



I have not had any formal training or schooling, if that is what you are ultimately getting at, but like so many out there, hence the name “DIY”, I have read, studied and done my own research to gain knowledge of lithium cells, their characteristics and capabilities.

Yes, I have done some discharge tests, along with some cycle tests, not to simply see the abuse that the cells take, but to learn how they react through their cycles. It may not satisfy everyone’s viewpoint of "testing", but it works and provides me with the information that I am looking for.

My experience with them in a vehicle would be yes, if you consider a bicycle a LEV or light electric vehicle!

Our technical support comes from a variety of sources. If I know the answer through the studying that I have done, I will answer. If not, then I will find out, not only to help increase my knowledge, but to provide the answer to the one asking. I also use the technical support that Headway offers me. If I do not know, then I know of a place where the question can be asked to get a collaborated answer, and that is here on the forums.


The last I knew of the whereabouts of the rest of the EVComponents inventory, which included the Headway inventory, was that it was court ordered to be handed over to the plaintiffs attorney’s representative I believe on, or around the 24th of November to be stored until further action by the courts.

Jim Delgado
Owner
http://www.headway-headquarters.com

Headway Headquarters said:

Hello Travis,

Well the first question is somewhat of a loaded question is it not? With being aware of who you are, it seems to me that no matter what I answer “it will not be enough” of a good answer, but I will do my best to answer your question(s).

Click to expand...

They are legitimate questions. I appreciate the response. My intention was to show that either you are, or not able to provide technical support with respect to charging, discharging, cycle life, etc. I'll let your answers stand for themselves and let others decide. From your response, you seem technical enough for the basic questions most people will ask.

I have not had any formal training or schooling, if that is what you are ultimately getting at, but like so many out there, hence the name “DIY”, I have read, studied and done my own research to gain knowledge of lithium cells, their characteristics and capabilities.

Click to expand...

nah, that isn't important. I never learned anything about batteries in college either. Its all about experience and ability to research. Schooling not required, but technical knowledge is essential.

Yes, I have done some discharge tests, along with some cycle tests, not to simply see the abuse that the cells take, but to learn how they react through their cycles. It may not satisfy everyone’s viewpoint of "testing", but it works and provides me with the information that I am looking for.

Click to expand...

What did you use to discharge? Did you log data? What information did you get from these tests. I am interested, because I own headways myself and am interested in other people's data.

My experience with them in a vehicle would be yes, if you consider a bicycle a LEV or light electric vehicle!

Click to expand...

That counts.

Our technical support comes from a variety of sources. If I know the answer through the studying that I have done, I will answer. If not, then I will find out, not only to help increase my knowledge, but to provide the answer to the one asking. I also use the technical support that Headway offers me. If I do not know, then I know of a place where the question can be asked to get a collaborated answer, and that is here on the forums.

Click to expand...

Good answer, Thats what I was trying to get at.

The last I knew of the whereabouts of the rest of the EVComponents inventory, which included the Headway inventory, was that it was court ordered to be handed over to the plaintiffs attorney’s representative I believe on, or around the 24th of November to be stored until further action by the courts.

Click to expand...

Well lets hope you're not selling any of the batteries from that stock of headways, because as an ex-employee of EVComponents, I actually own cells from their last shipment to EVComponents. I hope we don't find any cells matching the serial numbers/build dates of the cells you are selling out of your own domestic stock.

Are you willing to email me a picture of your stock of 10Ah cells, and a closeup showing a serial number and cell ends? When were they purchased?

Thanks for answering my questions.

frodus said:

Are you willing to email me a picture of your stock of 10Ah cells, and a closeup showing a serial number and cell ends? When were they purchased?

Click to expand...

Travis,

I am posting a few pictures here including our most recent arrival of SignaLab PCM's. Some of the cells are stacked on shelves, some I still am going through spot checking voltage, impedance, etc. We have had a few shipments since we started in October and November and have recently placed an order for 38140S cells because of their increasing popularity with electric scooters and the inquiries that we are receiving.

I have not had the opportunity to check the entire forums, so I am not sure if there are pictures of the 'new' design of the anode end of the Headway cells. I believe a 'Jack Bauer' (sp) either here or on another forum had made mention of the change, that it was an increase from 4 vent holes to 8 vent holes which are visible here in the photos.

Also I noticed that they slightly changed the design of the spacer blocks that are designed for the 38120P & S and 38140S. In the photo I placed a yellow 40160S spacer block next to the 'new' orange spacer block. The 'older' spacer blocks are, in my opinion a little sturdier and resemble the same mold as the yellow 40160S. The 'new' orange spacer block allows them to be easily stacked for storage and shipping purposes but use less of the plastic molding material. Most noticeable in the corners of the spacer blocks themselves.

The cells in those photos are the new style and not what EVComponents had at the time of my departure. The cells in my garage were from the last shipment (to my knowledge) of cells from EVComponents and have completely different end connectors. I can only speak of the contents of the photo's, not their legitimacy but there's One thing to note, is that one of the boxes is addressed to Patricia Rose, who Jim said he is working with.

The older cells (not the ones Jim has posted) have a different cell-end. One has 4 side holes and a clear epoxy on the other end. Jim's show a black epoxy and a completely different cell end with 8 holes on the other side.

(click for the larger image)

I don't doubt that Jim is selling legit cells from Headway and that they are the newer style.


Jim,

I wonder what happened to those cells that James ended up with.