LiPo Batteries on a Go-Kart?

SquidBonez

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Not a very strong motor for a 500-600lb kart with rider. What are your top speed goals? Acceleration? Hill climbing ability?

If that is the motor you go with than those 20ah lipos probably would be enough.
Top speed around 55, decent acceleration. I've seen this QS motor rip in all sorts of stuff. Don't see why a frame designed for a standard "big block" Honda clone couldn't use a QS motor running the same amount of power. People put the QS motors in quads too.
 

Bmr4Karts

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Top speed around 55, decent acceleration. I've seen this QS motor rip in all sorts of stuff. Don't see why a frame designed for a standard "big block" Honda clone couldn't use a QS motor running the same amount of power. People put the QS motors in quads too.

I'm seeing 7500w continuous which is 10hp. Are they under-rated by the manufacturer?
 

Bmr4Karts

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They're rated for 7500w but people run them all the way up to 20kw with no isses overheating. I'd be running 15. As long as you can keep the motor cool they are good.
Gotcha. In that case you need more battery capacity and that motor would meet your needs.
 

Functional Artist

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WooWee Momma, that do have a bite! (that's a pricy combo) :smiley_omg:

Have you thought about using Lithium modules out of electric cars? :auto:

For example, an 18S3P 72V 50AH battery module, out of a Chevy Volt, (~$750.00)
...would/could easily put-out 200A
...& should power a kart for at least an hour

They are professionally designed & built (to power full size cars NOT RC cars) :thumbsup:
...& not some Chinese, who knows what/junk :devil2:

My Hell-raiser kart has (2) 24V 50AH Chevy Volt modules, connected in series to make a 48V 50AH battery pack
...& I've ran it several times, for nearly an hour each time :2guns:

Oh...& it's super fun too:sifone:
 

Bmr4Karts

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I agree with FA. At your weight I’m assuming it will be large enough to house batteries from full size vehicles.
I’m running lipos purely because of power density. Cost way more too.
 
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If you have access to somewhere with tons of old broken laptops you can take out the 18650 cells and spot weld your own battery with a cheap amazon BMS. It would be tedious, but cheap.
 

Bmr4Karts

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If you have access to somewhere with tons of old broken laptops you can take out the 18650 cells and spot weld your own battery with a cheap amazon BMS. It would be tedious, but cheap.

would be an extremely large and heavy pack in order to meet the required current need.

Used up 18650 cell have lost storage and current capacity meaning you would need more of them (potentially double) than if you built a pack using new cells. I have collected a lot of 18650 from the Homedepot recycle bins are most are truly dead or have half the rated capacity.

secondly laptop cells are not designed for high current demand like power tool cells are.

Used cells are best for low demand projects.

if cells are desired I would push for new 21700 instead of 18650. They have higher storage density as well as current ratings.
 

nobled2

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WooWee Momma, that do have a bite! (that's a pricy combo) :smiley_omg:

Have you thought about using Lithium modules out of electric cars? :auto:

For example, an 18S3P 72V 50AH battery module, out of a Chevy Volt, (~$750.00)
...would/could easily put-out 200A
...& should power a kart for at least an hour

They are professionally designed & built (to power full size cars NOT RC cars) :thumbsup:
...& not some Chinese, who knows what/junk :devil2:

My Hell-raiser kart has (2) 24V 50AH Chevy Volt modules, connected in series to make a 48V 50AH battery pack
...& I've ran it several times, for nearly an hour each time :2guns:

Oh...& it's super fun too:sifone:
Who makes that power meter you are running in the dash?? I would like to find something that will give me more and better information on electric go kart
 

Bmr4Karts

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