May 11, 2017
If…the idea of using cordless tool batteries to power an ebike has ever crossed your mind? You are not alone. After some research, I found out that…it is not as crazy as it might sound.
First of all, I have known for a long time that the 18650-format cells that are in cordless tools (18650 = 18mm diameter, 65mm long), are the premium cells that you would want for making an ebike battery pack. Its true that laptop computers also use 18650-format cells, but…those are low-amp cells that compete on lowest price, not high-performance or long run-time. Just four years ago, pioneer ebike hot-rodders like Doctor Bass had to buy and gut cordless tool packs to get high-performance cells (now, there are hot-rod packs from many suppliers, like Luna Cycle).
So…this leads to a question. Which cordless tool packs can power an ebike? This isn’t a crazy question. International trade conflicts mean that at any moment, products from China can become a temporary casualty of a trade war (there is currently a trade deficit, meaning the US buys more from China, than China buys from the US). Trust me, all ebike products have some component that comes from China.
