Embarking on a do-it-yourself electric vehicle (EV) project can be an exciting and cost-effective way to get into the world of electric mobility. Sourcing components from a reliable Electric Car Parts Company is crucial for the success of such ventures. While pre-packaged EV components offer convenience, sometimes exploring alternative options can lead to significant savings, albeit with a bit more effort. Our experience with HiPower batteries illustrates this trade-off perfectly.
We decided to take a bit of a chance with some HiPower batteries. Now, it’s worth noting upfront that HiPower is no longer operating. This immediately raises a red flag regarding warranty and support. Purchasing these batteries was, admittedly, a gamble. Although they were supposedly unused, there was no way to verify their history or previous handling. To mitigate risk, we conducted thorough internal resistance and voltage tests on the HiPower cells. The results were promising enough to justify the risk, as the potential cost savings were substantial.
Alt text: Close-up of a HiPower battery cell showing its plastic casing, highlighting a component from an electric car parts company, suitable for DIY projects.
We acquired these HiPower batteries at a price of $60 per cell, purchasing 20 to build a 1,000Ah battery bank. Ultimately, the total expenditure for the batteries, along with essential system components and hardware, approximated $2,000. It’s important to remember these are estimated figures, and a detailed cost breakdown will be provided in a future post.
Opting for the HiPower batteries, instead of readily available new energy batteries from a typical electric car parts company, did present us with some additional challenges and required more hands-on work:
- Size and Weight: The HiPower batteries were considerably larger and heavier than comparable New Energy batteries. This size difference posed a challenge when fitting them into our RV battery compartment, demanding more creative installation solutions.
- Heat Dissipation: The plastic casing of the HiPower cells, unlike some metal casings that aid in heat dissipation, necessitated designing a dedicated cooling system to manage heat effectively and ensure battery longevity. This is a crucial consideration when selecting components, and a good electric car parts company often provides guidance on thermal management.
- Busbar Sourcing: As these were older stock batteries, sourcing compatible busbars became our responsibility. Newer battery options from an electric car parts company typically include or offer compatible busbars, simplifying assembly.
- DIY Assembly: Unlike the New Energy batteries which feature pre-drilled holes for easy pack assembly, the HiPower cells required a completely DIY approach to securely hold them together as a battery pack. This demanded more fabrication and engineering ingenuity on our part.
Alt text: Assembling a DIY battery pack using HiPower cells, illustrating the hands-on nature of projects when not sourcing from a standard electric car parts company.
However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that these extra efforts were directly linked to the significant cost savings we achieved. Choosing to deviate from readily available parts from a standard electric car parts company allowed us to reduce our expenses considerably. This experience underscores the trade-off inherent in DIY projects: greater savings often come with increased complexity and labor. For those looking to minimize effort and ensure component compatibility and support, partnering with a reputable electric car parts company might be the preferred route, even if it means a higher initial investment. Ultimately, the best approach depends on your budget, technical skills, and willingness to invest time and effort into your electric vehicle project.
