Electric skateboards or e-skateboards are becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand. There are some amazing boards available, and SIMPOWER recently had the pleasure of building a custom battery pack for a Trampa Electric Mountain Board. They were approached by Robert, who had ordered the board new from the UK, but unfortunately, he was not aware that getting the battery into New Zealand could be a nightmare. So, he decided to see if SIMPOWER could manufacture the battery for him.
E-skateboard batteries can be manufactured using several different battery types, and SIMPOWER have seen packs out of Lithium Ion (Li-ION) 18650 cells, 21700 cells, Lithium Polymer pouches and even good old lead acid. The most readily available are 18650 cells, of which they have a large range in stock.
The Trampa board is an incredible piece of engineering, carbon fibre, incredibly strong and by the looks of things, very fast. The battery box on the top of the board was a limited size and of course Robert wanted the biggest capacity battery he could get to get the longest distance, whilst still getting good cycle life from the cells. In consultation with SIMPOWER, he decided to use the INR18605-30Q SAMSUNG 18650 cell. This cell is a great choice for E-bikes and skateboards as it has a high capacity and a high drain capability of 15A maximum continuous discharge current.
Robert had also done some research and found a company that already made custom battery parts for the Trampa range of boards. So, rather than reinvent the wheel, SIMPOWER sourced the necessary parts and got to work.
SIMPOWER say that to figure out exactly how to match the proper battery to your life, you need to know what you plan on using your electric skateboard for. It is not only the most expensive part of any DIY build, but it affects everything from your speed, and range, to how quickly you are fully charged and back on the road.
If you plan on commuting, going for long rides, your battery needs would be different than someone who just plans to hit the park or go trail riding, and for more information on lead acid battery capacity testers and battery radios NZ please go to https://www.simpower.co.nz .
