When you are creating a high-powered e-bike with a fat tire, mid drive, or a custom conversion, you realize that the battery will be the most critical component. The BSTBAT 52V 25Ah e-bike battery comes in with a whopping 1,300 Wh of total energy as well as a 50A Smart BMS. This makes it in a much higher class than the common 48V 10AH packs you may be familiar with when completing budget builds. At 24 cents per Wh, it is also one of the lowest cost high capacity 52V packs available today.
Specifications and Build Quality
This battery operates on 52-volts nominal (58.8V max) and has 25 amp-hours. This equates to 1300 Wh of total energy. With these specifications, this battery can operate a 1kW hub motor for approximately two hours of constant riding time or run a 750W mid-drive motor all day during commuting without worrying about running out of juice. The battery itself is a rectangular style downtube battery measuring approximately 368mm X 92mm X 155mm. There is an XT60 connection on the bottom for discharging and an LED display of the battery level on the side.
The cells used in this battery are Grade-A Lithium-Ion Cells with a Smart BMS rated for 50A Continuous Discharge and greater than 1000 Charge Cycles. The Smart BMS is significant because many of the lower-cost packs offer less capable 20A or 30A BMS boards that cannot sustain high-current motors. Because of the 50A rating of this battery, it can handle up to approximately 2.6 kW Peak. This allows the motor to be able to accommodate virtually every type of ebike motor including a 500W commuter motor to a 1900W extreme build motor.
The base of the battery features a five gold pin locking mechanism with a key lock. The majority of Bafang and Universal Conversion Kits utilize the same five gold pin locking mechanism as the BSTBAT Battery. Therefore, you should have no issues connecting the battery to your existing mount.
BMS, Safety, and Design Characteristics
The Smart BMS on this battery protects against Over-Charge, Over-Discharge, Over-Current, Short Circuit Protection. This is nothing special when compared to quality packs. However, the fact that it has a 50A Continuous Rating means that the protection will not activate prematurely due to rapid increases in current flow when you are rapidly ascending a steep incline at maximum throttle speed. As such, it is extremely difficult to compare cheaper batteries. Many cheaper BMS Boards will disconnect power immediately after detecting increased current flow. As such, the rider is forced to continue manually propelling their ebike while attempting to climb steep hills.
The exterior shell appears to resemble the standard aluminum-shelled downtube design. Although the BSTBAT is not officially listed as being Waterproof according to any recognized IP Standard. The manufacturer claims that the seams should provide adequate sealing for occasional exposure to moisture from rain and road spray. Riders will still want to exercise caution when operating in excessive amounts of rain or those riders that are prone to splashing through large puddles.
The four LED lights on the top of the pack are very convenient. They give a general indication of remaining charge based upon which of the four LED lights are illuminated.
Feedback from Amazon Reviewers
As this is a new product on Amazon, there currently isn't much review feedback. However, both reviewers feel positively toward the product. One reviewer provided a Verified Purchase designation as well as giving it a perfect score. Both reviewers complimented on how sturdy the unit felt given its low price.
The primary advantage of purchasing this battery seems to be price-based value. It's difficult to match 1300Wh of capacity for anywhere near this price when comparing to other popular brand-name batteries.
There doesn't appear to be any major concerns regarding safety as indicated from the seller's listing. An apparent concern could possibly arise in regards to not having an official IP rating for water resistance. Riders who experience excessive moisture on a consistent basis may consider adding additional sealants around the base and charging port areas. This is a common practice among manufacturers within this price bracket. You can check out other battery reviews on our blog for more insights on similar packs.
Range and Real World Performance
Range performance varies greatly depending on multiple variables, namely motor type, terrain ridden, weight of rider, assistance levels utilized, and usage of throttle only versus pedal-assist. Using average values for each variable, a 25 Wh/mile rate for a moderately assisted 750W bicycle, and a 40 Wh/mile rate for a harder pushed 1500W bicycle, yields estimated ranges of around 50 miles and 30 miles respectively.
The supplied charger is a 58V 3A charger. Using this charger results in charging time of around nine hours when charging from completely discharged to fully charged. To reduce charging time, a 5A charger would result in around six hours of charging time from fully discharged to fully charged. You might want to check current pricing on Amazon if you need a faster charging setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which motors is this battery compatible with?
Compatible motors include motors ranging from 250W to 1900W. Motor recommendations include mid drives and hub motors from 750W to 1600W. Additionally, this battery is compatible with Bafang, Voilamart, AW and most universal conversion kits. Please note that this is NOT compatible with proprietary systems from Bosch, Shimano STEPS, Yamaha, and Panasonic.
Does it come with a charger?
Yes, a 58V 3A charger is included in the packaging with the BSTBAT Battery as well as mounting hardware (rack), discharge plug and user manual.
Will it fit my Rad Power bike or Lectric XP?
Although BSTBAT utilizes a universal downtube form factor and includes an XT60 connection for discharging, Rad Power and Lectric utilize proprietary connectors for their respective products. As such, verification of compatibility or modification of connectors is required prior to utilizing this battery with either product.
How long will it take to charge?
About nine hours from completely discharged state using the included 3A charger. Charging time can be reduced by using a 5A charger resulting in around six hours of charging time from empty to full.
What about the warranty?
BSTBAT provides customer support via email with 24-hour response times. The Grade-A cells are rated for over 1000 charge cycles, so the battery should function properly for several years under normal usage.
Is it safe for high-power builds?
Yes, the 50A Smart BMS is specifically designed for high powered applications including up to 1900W peak. The Smart BMS protects against overcurrent, overdischarge, overcharge and shorts. Just make sure your motor and controller are compatible with 52V operation before installation. You can compare the BSTBAT against other 52V options on our battery comparison table to see how the specs stack up.