If you ride hard, you have probably felt your board lose its punch as the battery drains. A well built aftermarket battery can do better. Here is why, and what it takes.
The power sag problem
If you are an aggressive rider, you will know that after about 60%, the power starts to sag under higher loads. With newer generation cells and proper construction techniques, an aftermarket battery can hold a higher power level for longer. In some testing I have done, instead of starting to lose power around 60%, it started losing power around 35%.
Newer generation cells
The cell Fliteboard currently uses, the Molicel P42A, is a great battery, but it is getting quite outdated. Newer generation 21700 cells deliver more power for their weight. Our first choice is the Tenpower 60XG. We also like the Great Power 60Q and the Reliance RS60. For colder climates, we like the Reliance RS50. If cost is no consideration, the Linkdata 70P is also an option, though its cycle life is not as good as the other cells we recommend. The full list is in our FAQ.
Less weight
A custom battery build can also reduce weight significantly while still following proper safety techniques.
The weight savings come from construction techniques. The Flitecell is one of the safest eFoil batteries on the market, but you give up lightness for that safety. Its cell grid and frame add a significant amount of weight.
What you give up
- It is a DIY project. You need real experience with lithium-ion batteries, or a qualified builder. Read our Battery Safety page first.
- Firmware can change. Current Fliteboard firmware has no known block on third-party batteries, but a future update could change that. Wait before installing new firmware.
- The percentage on your remote drifts while riding. Stop for a few seconds and it updates to the correct number. This is about to be fixed: I am very close to finishing The Bridge, a device that makes an aftermarket battery look exactly like a stock battery to the Flitebox, so the percentage reads accurately at all times.
If you want something plug and play, a Flitecell from Fliteboard is the better choice.
Where Helium fits
One of the harder parts of building an eFoil battery is the enclosure. Most people end up using electrical junction boxes or no waterproof enclosure at all. The Helium Enclosure is our answer to that: a water resistant case with the same physical dimensions as the Flitecell Sport, made for Fliteboard Series 2 and newer. Curious about the total cost of a build? See How much will a complete battery cost? in our FAQ.
Posterduck Customs LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by Fliteboard. Fliteboard and Flitecell are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to describe compatibility.