If you ride a folding ebike, and the original battery is losing its juice. Finding a suitable replacement battery that matches the size of your bike's battery compartment may become the biggest challenge. The Cefito 48V 20Ah is a 960Wh battery pack that has been designed specifically for folding ebikes and includes a 30 amp battery management system (BMS) along with a 2 amp charger. It is priced at the low end of our battery comparison table on a price/watt hour basis. The dimensions of the battery are 14.4 x 5.1 x 3.4 inches, which is the type of measurement you'll want to compare to the exact dimensions of your bike's battery slot prior to purchasing.
What you get in the box
You will receive everything you need to install the Cefito 48V 20Ah battery into your folding ebike when you purchase it. The 960Wh pack itself, a smart charger capable of delivering 54.6 volts @ 2 amps, 2 keys for securing the pack in place, mounting hardware, and a carry handle to help lift the pack in and out of your bike. Although these last three items might seem trivial, they really do matter when trying to find a convenient method to transport your battery pack indoors to charge it when there isn't a garage outlet available near where you park. For example, if you're going to ride your folding ebike into town for coffee or grocery shopping and then leave it locked outside on the sidewalk, being able to easily pick up your battery pack and move it inside to charge will save you lots of time. Having a locking mechanism that needs a key to remove the pack from your bike provides some level of theft prevention as well, especially when you store your bike in crowded areas such as train station or cafe parking lots.
As mentioned earlier, the mounting hardware is necessary as each brand/model of ebike uses different types of mounts to secure their batteries in place.
Physical specs
The voltage of the Cefito 48V 20Ah battery is exactly 48 volts, the same as most ebikes on the market today. The capacity of the pack is a true 20Ah, which equates to approximately 960 watt-hours of usable energy. The actual dimensions of the pack are stated as follows: 14.4 x 5.1 x 3.4 inches. The dimensions are slightly different in other parts of the description including one area that states they are 15 x 5.1 x 3.4. Regardless, both sets of numbers represent the same physical dimension and therefore you will need to carefully measure the dimensions of your bikes' existing battery compartment prior to placing an order for this battery pack in order to determine if it will physically fit.
The total weight of the battery is approximately 11.5 pounds, which is consistent with what you would expect from a lithium based pack with this capacity. As noted above, LiFePO4 packs at this capacity generally weigh significantly more than lithium packs and therefore the Cefito is somewhat lighter than what you would expect for a pack with this much usable energy.
BMS and motor range
The BMS (battery management system) on this pack protects against overcharge, undercharge, overcurrent cutoffs and short circuits. These are considered to be the four most important functions a BMS should perform and Cefito's BMS performs all of them.
In addition to protecting against overcharge and undercharge events, the BMS also regulates the amount of power that can be drawn from the pack at any given time. The continuous discharge capability of the BMS is set at 30 amps and as such this pack can safely supply power to motors ranging from 100W to 1000W. Most hubs on folding ebikes fall in this range, although higher output hubs and mid drives exceed the continuous discharge capability of the BMS.
Range on a single charge
With a capacity of approximately 960Wh, most users can expect to travel anywhere from 40 to 60 miles depending upon their riding style, weight and how aggressively they apply throttle input. Users who prefer using high levels of assist input on steep hills will probably see closer to the lower end of this estimated mileage while casual flat ground commuters who run primarily at PAS level 1 or level 2 will easily reach the upper end.
For reference purposes, most budget folding ebikes come equipped with either 24V or 36V batteries that deliver around 200-300Wh and provide approximately 20-25 miles of pedal-assist range.
Going up to 48 volts provides faster top speeds and greater climbability if your controller allows it however, please confirm compatibility prior to installing this pack.
Charging speed and lifespan
The included 2 amp charger charges the pack at a very slow rate. From completely empty to full charge will require approximately ten hours. For those users needing to recharge during daylight hours, an alternative option exists. Many users elect to add an external 4amp or 5amp charger to reduce the overall recharge time down to approximately five hours.
Based on testing results provided by Cefito, they estimate their cells will retain at least 85 percent of their original capacity after completing 1000+ cycles. Assuming usage patterns similar to those experienced by most daily commuters, this represents approximately three to five years of service life.
What reviewers say
At present there are only three reviews posted for this product and all have awarded it five stars. While these initial reviews are very encouraging, it seems premature to make any definitive conclusions regarding long term durability or consistency across units due to limited number of reviewers. Therefore, buyers opting to purchase this product now will essentially be among the first users.
While this may seem daunting for potential buyers, Cefito appears to be a relatively new company developing new products and as such. It is normal for products from new companies to lack reviewer feedback until more people begin buying their products. We recommend checking back in several months when hopefully more reviews will exist. Alternatively, customers may opt to utilize Amazon's return policy as a safety net if needed.
Who should buy this Cefito battery
Users who own a folding ebike powered by a 100W-1000W hub motor and have sufficient space in their bike's battery compartment (approximately 14.4 x 5.1 x 3.4 inches) would greatly benefit from utilizing the Cefito 48V 20Ah battery. Additionally, users with folding ebikes who wish to include anti-theft features on their bikes would also benefit from purchasing this battery due to inclusion of keys required to unlock the battery from their bike.
However, users wishing to replace batteries in non-folding ebikes featuring downtube or "shark" or "hailong" style mounts would not be ideal candidates for purchasing this product as the shape of this battery does not match those configurations. Furthermore, users with folding ebikes that feature extremely powerful motors (>30 amps) would not be ideal candidates for purchasing this product as the BMS would limit performance capabilities of the motor.
We offer additional options within our ebike battery comparison table that allow users to sort batteries based on price/watt hour and further filter based on voltage and packaging configuration (size) to ensure correct sizing for specific ebikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Cefito battery fit my folding ebike?
Ultimately this decision will depend solely on whether or not the dimensions of your bike's existing battery compartment will accept this particular battery pack. The Cefito measures approximately 14.4 x 5.1 x 3.4 inches therefore you will need to accurately measure your bike's existing battery compartment prior to ordering in order to assure fitment.
Additionally, according to information contained in the listing. Cefito recommends verifying that your bike will accept this battery prior to making a purchase.
Will the Cefito battery work with my existing controller at only 36V?
No - the Cefito is a 48-volt battery pack and cannot operate on a controller configured for operation at only 36 volts. Placing a 48 volt battery pack onto a controller designed for operation at only 36 volts could potentially cause damage to both components (controller/motor).
Therefore, if you currently own a folding ebike that utilizes a controller configured for operation at only 36 volts. You will need to acquire a replacement controller configured for operation at 48 volts prior to utilizing the Cefito.
How long does it take to fully charge the pack using the included charger?
Approximately ten hours - due to limitations placed on the charger (only providing an average of .27 amps), recharging times are lengthy. However, adding an aftermarket charger (i.e., a 4amp or 5amp charger) will enable users to significantly decrease recharging time down to approximately five hours.
Can I use this battery with mid drive motors?
Yes - based on specifications contained within the listing. This battery pack should function appropriately with mid drive motors capable of handling outputs in excess of 100W up to and including 1000W. Bafang BBS01 and BBS02 mid drives are generally within acceptable ranges for use with this pack.
What's the warranty or return policy?
Like most Amazon battery purchases, the standard Amazon return window applies for the first 30 days. After that, you're working through Cefito directly. Check the current Amazon listing for the most up-to-date warranty terms, since they can vary.
Why does the listing say "No Bottom Discharge Port"?
Some 48V battery designs have a discharge port on the bottom of the pack instead of the side. Cefito calls this out because if your folding ebike was designed to mate with a bottom-port battery, this pack won't connect properly. Most folders use side-port connections, but it's worth confirming yours does too before ordering.