25
Battery Types and Terms
The XP-series use a 48 V (nominal voltage) battery pack comprised of four
12 V (nominal voltage) batteries. These batteries are electrically con-
nected in series to form the 48 V battery “pack”. The battery chemistries
presently used are either the standard Sealed Lead-Acid “Gel Cell”, or
optional Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO
4
). Both types are maintenance-
free, sealed, and leak-proof in any position in normal use.
What is “Nominal” Voltage?
Batteries are commonly referred to
by their “nominal” voltage, which is essentially a shorthand refer-
ence usually based on some theoretical average or “natural” voltage
related to the particular battery chemistry. In the case of the batteries
used in MOTORINO™s, the battery packs are simply referred to as 48 V
(4x 12 V) but the actual measured voltages will range from about 55 V
when fully charged, down to about 42 V when the motor controller’s
low-voltage cut-off kicks in.
The “capacity” of the standard XP-series gel cell battery pack is 20 A-h
(amp-hours), enough charge for about 50km distance in ideal conditions.
It weighs about 27kg (60 lbs). The LiFePO
4
battery pack is rated at 26 A-h
and also weighs about 50% less, so gives a useful range of 70-80km.
What is an “amp-hour”?
In the simplest sense, it means a current of
one ampere, delivered for one hour. For example, our standard 20 A-h
battery pack is theoretically rated to deliver one amp for 20 hours, or
20 amps for one hour. Of course, there is always more to the story. A
battery’s ability to deliver power varies inversely with the intensity of
the power draw, so delivering 20 amps is less-efficient than delivering
one amp. Therefore, the qualifier to amp-hour ratings is the intensity
of draw used in the test to come up with the capacity spec. This is
usually stated as a fraction of the battery’s rated capacity. MOTORI-
NO™ gel cells are rated at the C/1 rate, which means they were tested
with a 20 A draw to come up with the spec.
But that is still not the whole measure of power capacity. Just like on
your home electric bill, power, which is the ability to actually do work, is
measured in Watts (which for electricity equals the voltage multiplied by
the current) and ultimate power consumption is measured in watts used
over time, or watt-hours. So, multiplying the A-h rating by voltage gives
watts, which means 20A-h x 48 V = 960 watt-hours of total electric power
Battery Information, Care, and Feeding
Summary of Contents for MOTORINO XP SERIES
Page 1: ...Owner s Manual XP Series...
