There are a lot of different 18650 batteries on the market, and it can be tough to know which one is best for your e-bike. In general, you’ll pay attention to a battery’s capacity (mAh rating), discharge rate (C rating), and compatibility with the e-bike’s controller.
In this article, we delve into the 18650 battery in more detail, battery specs, and how to identify the best 18650 battery for your e-bike.
What is a 18650 Battery?
A 18650 battery is a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged. The 18650 designation comes from the physical dimensions of the battery, which are 18 mm in diameter and 65 mm in length. The 0 represents the cylindrical shape of the battery.
18650 is one of the most common types of lithium-ion batteries. They are used in a wide variety of devices, including laptops, vapes, flashlights, and light electric vehicles.
Light electric vehicles such as e-bikes prefer 21700 and 18650 batteries.
How to Choose the Best 18650 Battery for Your E-bike
When choosing battery packs for your electric bike, you’ll want to consider the main factors:
- Capacity
- Discharge rate compatibility.
- Compatibility
Capacity
The capacity of a battery is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). The higher the mAh rating, the more energy the battery can store. A higher capacity lithium-ion rechargeable battery will give you a longer range on your bike. A higher capacity also means that the battery will take longer to charge.
Choosing the right battery capacity can improved e-bike performance.
Continuous Discharge Rating
The discharge rate of a 18650 battery for an e-bike is measured in terms of continuous current (C). A higher C rating means that the battery can provide more current for a longer period without being damaged.
Higher Continuous discharge ratings are important if you’ll be using your bike for high-performance applications, such as racing or off-road riding.
Compatibility
It’s important to make sure that the 18650 lithium-ion batteries you choose are compatible with your bike’s controller.
Other factors that can guarantee you a good pack of li-ion for your e-bike include:
- The 18650 e-bike cell manufacturers
- 18650 battery chemistry
- Features of the 18650 battery packs for e-bike
- 18650 e-bike battery voltage
- Your budget
- The durability of the 18650 battery for the e-bike
- The warranty period
1. 18650 e-bike cell manufacturers
Some 18650 battery brands are better than others in terms of quality and performance including continuous discharge rating.
There are many brands of 18650 batteries from reputable manufacturers, such as:
Panasonic
Panasonic 18650 lithium-ion batteries are among the most popular on the market. They are known for their high quality, good prices, and performance.
LG Chem
LG Chem 18650 is also very popular. They are known for their high energy density and long life.
Samsung SDI
Samsung 18650 is common in laptops and other devices. They are known for their high quality and reliability.
Sony
Sony 18650 is also common in laptops and other devices.
CATL
CATL is known for manufacturing high-quality 18650 lithium-ion. They are among the best batteries on the market with good prices.
BYD
BYD is a Chinese battery manufacturer. They are known for their good quality and competitive prices.
Toshiba
Toshiba 18650 li-ion are also common in laptops and other devices. They are known for their high expectancy and more power.
A123 Systems
A123 Systems is known for its high-quality 18650 li-ion. They are used in a wide variety of applications, including electric vehicles, digital cameras, and vaping devices amongst other devices.
2. 18650 battery chemistry
The chemical composition of 18650 batteries is very important in choosing a rechargeable battery. The chemical composition includes:
- FePO4
- NCM
- NCA
Each of these chemistries has its advantages and disadvantages.
Lithium iron phosphate (FePO4) is the most stable of the four chemistries. It has a very low rate of self-discharge and is not susceptible to thermal runaway. However, LiFePO4 has a lower energy density than the other chemistries.
Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) lithium battery comes with a high power density and good stability. It is one of the most popular battery types on the market. It is quite affordable with a low continuous discharge rating.
Lithium nickel cobalt magnesium oxide (NCM) batteries are the most popular type of lithium battery on the market. They are affordable, have a long cycle of life, and are very stable. NCM is available in a variety of voltages, ranging from 3.6 volts to 4.2 volts.
3. The 18650 e-bike battery voltage
18650 batteries come in a variety of voltages. Your choice of 18650 e-bike battery voltage will ultimately depend on the voltage of your bike.
The e-bike battery voltage you choose will also affect the amount of power your bike has. A higher voltage battery will give your bike more power, while a lower voltage battery will give your bike less power.
4. Features of the 18650 battery packs for e-bike
Some 18650 batteries come with built-in protection circuits Multi-function Protective Circuit Board (PCM). PCM is used to protect the cells from overcharging, over-discharging, overcurrent, and short circuits.
Overcharging protection: When the cell charging voltage reaches a certain voltage, the charger will stop supplying current to prevent overcharging.
Over-discharge protection: When the cell voltage drops below a certain voltage, the device will stop using the cell to prevent damage from over-discharging.
Overcurrent protection: If the current exceeds a certain A, the PCM will shut down the circuit to prevent damage from overcurrent.
Short circuit protection: If a short circuit is detected, the PCM will shut down the circuit to prevent damage from a short circuit.
Cell balancing: The PCM will equalize the voltage of all the cells in the pack to prevent one cell from being over-charged or over-discharged.
Temperature protection: The PCM will shut down the circuit if the temperature gets too high to prevent damage from overheating.
5. Your budget
The price of an ebike battery can vary depending on the brand, capacity, discharge rate, and other features. Choose the battery that fits your budget and needs rather than just an expensive battery.
6. The durability of the 18650 battery for the e-bike
The 18650 should be of high quality and durable. This will save you money in the long run as you will not have to replace it often.
The battery should also be able to withstand extreme temperatures and maintain the bike’s power. This is important as the battery will be exposed to different weather conditions.
The Tritek 18650 e-bike battery pack can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius and as high as 60 degrees Celsius. This makes it a great choice for those who live in areas with extreme temperatures.
7. The warranty period
The 18650 battery should come with a warranty period. This is important as you want to be able to replace the battery if it breaks down within the warranty period.
Conclusion
Choosing the best battery for your e-bike can be a tough task. There are a lot of different 18650 batteries on the market, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages.
With so many different 18650 batteries to choose from, it’s important to do your research to find the one that best meets your needs. By choosing the Tritek battery pack for your e-bike, you are guaranteed high-quality battery performance.
