There are many ways to get 600+ Wh in a seat tube pack that can still send 30A through your motor. That is basically the headline spec for the LGNUO 48V 13Ah silver fish ebike battery, and for anyone building a 48V folding or compact ebike it is a good example of the sort of math that might be worth thinking about when you are shopping. Most budget silver fish packs in this same size will have a 20A controller that puts the ceiling on your output at around 700W. LGNUO took the opposite direction and bumped the discharge limit to 30A. As a result, you could run motors up to 1000W without needing a huge battery. Of course, it is not a well-known brand, it is a new listing with zero reviews so far, and you need to be aware of that. Nonetheless, it does make a pretty compelling case for a seat tube battery that is light, thin, and has plenty of capability.
Here is the honest breakdown.
Specs and Build Quality
First, we'll take a look at the specs since that is essentially everything. This battery is a 48-volt, 13-ah unit that supplies 624Wh (48 x 13 = 624) of usable power. That could easily be enough for a good chunk of daily commuting or a whole day's worth of casual cruising on a moderately powered motor.
It measures 15.5 x 3 x 4.4 inches (392 x 76 x 111mm) and is physically quite thin. And what makes it stand out is that it only weighs 7.94 pounds (3.6kg). Compared to almost all other rear rack-mounted batteries, that is extremely light. Anyone familiar with owning a folding bike understands how much each individual pound matters, because additional weight on the frame directly above the seat tube affects how the bike folds and transports. Being able to carry less than eight pounds is better than carrying many rear rack containers.
According to LGNUO, this battery is designed for use with motors from 0-1000W. There is a lot of ground covered with that range, but what truly differentiates it from the rest of the pack is that it features a 30 amp continuous discharge rating. For someone running a 750-watt or 1000-watt hub motor and continually finding themselves constrained by their current battery on hills, this 624-Wh battery will give them the juice needed to let their motor operate properly rather than being limited by excessive current draw.
BMS, Safety, and Design Features
The internal BMS protects against four general classes of failure: overcharge, undercharge, overcurrent, and short circuit. Furthermore, LGNUO elevated the maximum allowable current setting of the BMS to 30 amps. Many low-cost alternative products will only feature a max current rating of 20 amps.
The housing itself forms the standard silver fish configuration, placing the pack vertically behind the seat tube. In this case though, LGNUO managed to keep the overall height of the pack as thin as possible, allowing the pack to sit as close as possible to the frame as a traditional brick-shaped pack would.
Additionally, the packaging includes a mounting bracket featuring a shock absorbing base design. When installed on a bike, the battery simply snaps into place via a key. The key-locking mechanism fulfills multiple roles simultaneously as both a deterrent to thieves and as the main method for disengaging power to the pack. Two keys are supplied with this product, ensuring that if you lose one key you will not become stranded.
LGNUO chose to forgo adding either an integrated USB port or an electronic readout of battery state. Instead, they allocated resources toward increasing the discharge capabilities of this unit. Although some consumers may miss having access to a USB port to charge their mobile devices during operation, consumers whose highest priority is a slender, lightweight, and functionally capable pack providing ample power to higher-powered motors will likely view this compromise as acceptable.
Compatibility and Mount
This is where LGNUO gets very detailed and thus where prospective purchasers should be very attentive. The silver fish configuration of the housing combined with the mounting bracket assures compatibility with seat-tube mounts utilized on many folding ebikes.
LGNUO claims compatibility with numerous ebikes and battery configurations. Prospective purchasers should carefully review this list to determine if their current ebike or battery configuration will be compatible with this product:
- Fat tire folding ebike (FAT20810 and FAT20S900)
- Starfish
- Dolphin MiFa
- Rex
- Prophete
- Aldi
- Avocet
- Viking
- Byocycles
- Phylion XH370-10J
- Zhenlong ZL1010-F
- Peacedove replacement line
Compatibility with a particular ebike or battery series involves more than just mounting hardware, specifically the type of connector that connects to the discharge lead. The LGNUO comes equipped with an XT60-4 pin connector on the discharge lead. If your current battery utilizes a similar silver fish-style connector configuration with four pins, there is a reasonably high probability that this will simply slide in. However, do not automatically assume compatibility with your connector type. Prior to making your purchase, it would be wise to locate the model number stamped onto your existing battery's discharge connector and cross-reference it to one of the listed models above.
Who Is This Battery For
If you possess a folding or compact 48 volt ebike and are tired of experiencing reduced performance from your motor due to a sagging current-limited pack that cannot supply adequate power, then this pack is for you. If you are running a 750W or 1kW hub motor and your current battery consistently shuts down on hills due to insufficient current supply, then this pack, complete with a 30A BMS, represents a valid improvement over most budget silver fish packs which only include a 20A BMS controller. With its 624Wh capacity, you will experience meaningful ride times during your commute and weekend excursions, and at just shy of eight pounds it will not negatively impact the agility of smaller frames.
I'm not sugar coating it. There are absolutely no user-submitted Amazon reviews for this product at the moment I am writing this post. So, as you will see below in the conclusion, since there has been no independent confirmation as to how accurately this product performs in terms of true range or accurate mount fitment, you are choosing solely based upon LGNUO's representations versus customer validation, and you should seriously consider buying with a return option available to mitigate your risk. Compare it to the other 48V battery options before you click buy now.
Included in the packaging is a fully-rated 48V 2A charger. Using this charger will allow you to recharge this pack from dead out in roughly half a day. While this isn't anything spectacular in comparison to other packs this size, it works perfectly fine for this application.
Also packaged are the mounting base, two keys, an XT60-4 pin connector, and owner's manual. You won't have to search for any components once you've completed checkout.
Browse more battery reviews on our blog to see how it compares to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which motor sizes can LGNUO handle?
LGNUO notes that their pack can support motors up to 1kW (0-1000 watts). In addition, as we discussed earlier, because they were able to bump the continuous current delivery to 30A at 48 volts, they opened up room for peak current delivery of roughly 1440 watts. Therefore, regardless of your motor's specified wattage, you will never reach your performance limits due to too little current delivered by this BMS.
Does the LGNUO pack come with a charger?
Yes. Included with this pack is an appropriately rated charger, a fully-rated 48V 2A unit. Additionally included in the packaging are a mounting base, two keys, an XT60-4 pin connector, and the owner's manual. The charger will require three plus hours (and possibly longer depending upon starting voltage) per charge cycle. Since it charges at only 2A, you'll want to plan on leaving it plugged in overnight so it can complete its charge cycle by morning.
What type of bike is this battery compatible with?
LGNUO cites compatibility with many models of ebikes and battery systems, including the fat tire folding ebike (FAT20810 and FAT20S900), Starfish, Dolphin MiFa, Rex, Prophete, Aldi, Avocet, Viking, Byocycles, Phylion XH370-10J, Zhenlong ZL1010-F, and Peacedove brands. Always verify your current battery's connector model before making any purchase decision.
What does the 30A BMS protect against?
As part of its internal BMS contained within this pack, LGNUO has provided protection against four types of failures: overcharge, undercharge, overcurrent, and short circuits. LGNUO has set the maximum allowable current rating for this BMS to 30A, unlike many cheaper alternatives which max out at only twenty amps.
Why hasn't anyone written an Amazon review yet on this product?
Since this product listing was established recently and therefore has generated no user comments or reviews, there has been no third-party verification regarding its operational characteristics such as true range or proper fitment. As such, customers should rely solely upon LGNUO's documentation and representations when deciding whether to purchase this product, and be prepared to use return options if necessary to limit their risk.