Crazy Thought: Using high-end Lithium Bicycle Batteries for your "camping" power supply?

Deleted Member 183

Well-known member
I'm talking "small rig" camping...

Charge 2 at a time while driving and use one in the afternoon after making camp for exploring on your Ebike, then the other for camp once it gets dark.

Here is the one on my prototype bike: 60V 20ah (with a DC/DC transformer or inverter should supply enough juice to "disco till dawn")!


20250726_151014.jpg
 

carterd

Active member
It's a logical solution. There are numerous companies that provider transformers/inverters to allow you to use power tool and lawn tool batteries for home/camp use. I'm not sure if your e-bike batteries have BMS (battery management system) to prevent over discharge, but you need to be careful not to drain the batteries.
 

jonyjoe101

Adventurer
Any battery packs can be used as power supplies with the proper buck or boost converters. I been using medical lithium batteries (3s 26ah) connected in parallel as my house batteries for years. The e-bike batteries will be just as effective.

1 enovate mobius.jpg
 

rruff

Explorer
Here is the one on my prototype bike: 60V 20ah (with a DC/DC transformer or inverter should supply enough juice to "disco till dawn")
It provides 1200Wh of energy, so about the same as a 12V 100Ah "house" battery. A quick search indicates that the bike batteries are expensive for that amount of energy (>$300), while the normal kind can be had for <$200.
 

Gravelette

Well-known member
Yep, I'd wonder about the cost unless someone already had an extra bike battery. A 50Ah LiTime 12V is available from Amazon for well under $200.
 

Deleted Member 183

Well-known member
Yes, quite a bit more money than a vehicular AGM. However, I like the idea that it is multi functional. We mostly camp/travel solo and are not pulling the Jeep behind Casa so much anymore. I always bring a Mt.bike along to do a "little exploring" around our camps.

But in the case of us getting stuck or broken down in deep BFE, In the past I was fit enough to pedal 30+ "baja" miles to get help if necessary... Now I'm just too old & broken!

But with an Ebike, I might just pull it off!
 

burleyman

Active member
How do you plan on charging the batteries while driving? We have two 48V ebike batteries that charge via a 400 watt Modified Square Wave inverter, using the provided 120vac bike chargers. Depending upon discharged level, that can take a few hours. Do you know the amps/wattage required for charging your batteries and time to charge?

We have two 48v, 750 watt Bafang mid-drive conversions. Most people want speed. Our mostly off-road hilly, narrow trail riding needs slow speeds and torque. It took a while to get front and rear gearing to get gear 1, mode 1 down to about 5mph. What wattage is yours? Looks like an absolute torque/wheelie monster/chain/spoke breaker/wheel spinner. Even geared down, ours can exceed 20 mph with a six speed rear. We really like the mid-drive vs hub. Is yours torque sensing?

My biggest fear was chain breakage. I still carry a chain, breaker, master links and repair parts, but after 800 miles have never used. One flat from a small thorn caused tube liner installation along with slime type tubes. A throttle is nice in case of becoming unable to pedal.

Our asses run down long before the batteries do. There has always been enough battery after riding to run the DC fridge overnight that draws about 3.5 amps when running. My display shows state of charge that helps determine remaining power before removing the battery.

Based upon rruff's review, I now own Elefast/feence lifepo4's that can take a high amp fast charge. I now reserve the bike batteries for just riding.

The amazing thing about an ebike is how much further away from the campsite we can become lost. Another plus is now mine is a physical therapy machine after a hip replacement. Also old and broken.

I used Anderson connectors to connect to the voltage reducers and to connect the reducers to 12v loads.

Your plan sounds like a plan.
 

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