How fast might it be practicable to recharge Lithium-iron (LiFe) batteries?
I read that they can be charged much faster than most batteries are right now (e.g. with 10-20A chargers, 2-3A being the 'norm' now, so charging at least 5-6 times faster & allowing top-up charges in minutes, not hours?), and that would make ebikes more useable by vastly reducing 'downtime' during recharges aswell as facilitate longer rides or touring by reducing the need (and hence extra weight and now substantial cost) of a second battery, and help to maximise the number of charge cycles before battery ageing might reduce performance (although thats less of an issue if LiFe lives up to claims of many years useful life).
Is there a downside or difficulty to this though, such as bulkier, heavier chargers, wasted energy & overheating issues due to less efficient, higher currents, and how detrimental might it be to the battery lifetime?
I realise its still early days for LiFe batteries and as such there are still many uncertainties, but if they do prove reliable for ebikes it'd be good to be informed of their capabilities, so I'd like to know what's possible, if possible .
Of course, if LiFe isn't the next big thing & anyone has more up-to-date information then I'd like to hear about that too!
Stuart.
I read that they can be charged much faster than most batteries are right now (e.g. with 10-20A chargers, 2-3A being the 'norm' now, so charging at least 5-6 times faster & allowing top-up charges in minutes, not hours?), and that would make ebikes more useable by vastly reducing 'downtime' during recharges aswell as facilitate longer rides or touring by reducing the need (and hence extra weight and now substantial cost) of a second battery, and help to maximise the number of charge cycles before battery ageing might reduce performance (although thats less of an issue if LiFe lives up to claims of many years useful life).
Is there a downside or difficulty to this though, such as bulkier, heavier chargers, wasted energy & overheating issues due to less efficient, higher currents, and how detrimental might it be to the battery lifetime?
I realise its still early days for LiFe batteries and as such there are still many uncertainties, but if they do prove reliable for ebikes it'd be good to be informed of their capabilities, so I'd like to know what's possible, if possible .
Of course, if LiFe isn't the next big thing & anyone has more up-to-date information then I'd like to hear about that too!
Stuart.