For more than 70 years, consumers have wondered if there are really any differences between low-cost batteries, such as those of the Chateau brand, and those of well-known brands such as Panasonic or Energizer.
This debate has long since been closed: the results of tests carried out by specialized firms have proven that quality varies greatly.
In short, you usually pay for what you get.
What about Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries?
In recent years, consumers have been asked the same questions for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries.
Consumers are looking to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Is the saying “you pay for what you get” still true in this case? Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
What’s Behind Cheap Batteries?
Among the popular brands available on Amazon are Eco-Worthy, Redodo, Li-Time, PowerQueen, AoLithium, Renogy and Ruixu. These batteries have several things in common:
- Lack of consistency : Internal components (cells, BMS, assembly method) vary from one production batch to another.
- Risque élevé d’incendie :
- Use of low-quality parts. Manufactured in factories without quality control.
- Lack of valid certifications on components and finished products.
- Limited warranty : often non-existent after 30 days.
- Unpredictable performance : Significant variability in battery performance between different battery production batches.
These brands take advantage of batches of parts in liquidation and do not hesitate to change suppliers or factories to maximize their profits.
Let’s take Eco-Worthy as an example: this brand is not a manufacturer, but a reseller that puts its logo on products made elsewhere. The supplier can change at any time, resulting in significant variations in quality.
Local brands: an alternative?
What about brands distributed by local companies?
Think of Canbat (Vancouver), Enerwatt (distributed by TCED), Nitro (Dixon Batteries) or ÉVOlithium (Unlimited Batteries).
Are these batteries really superior to cheap Chinese brands?
In fact, several elements prove to us that these batteries are not necessarily of better quality.
In 2024, EVOlithium self-heating batteries were recalled, as their heating system could remain continuously activated, thus representing a high risk of fire.
In 2025, the Nitro Lithium and EVOlithium batteries still do not have temperature sensors on their cell packs. As a result, in the absence of temperature monitoring, they are not protected against cold charging or thermal runaway cells, both of which also pose an increased risk of fire.
For these reasons, these two brands are obviously to be avoided.
Importers of traditional lead-acid batteries are not experts in lithium technology and lack the skills to analyze their suppliers’ products. These are often simple “labeling” operations, with products from Chinese companies, often sold at a higher price in order to cover the costs of the distribution chain.
For example, the importer Batteries du Québec, distributor of DriveMotion batteries, offers reseller stores a margin of 35 to 50%, with, in some cases, an additional percentage in commission for certain wholesalers in the regions.
One notable point: Nitro (from Dixon Batteries) and EVOlithium share the same supplier in China. It is actually the same product marketed under two separate brands. In addition, these local companies have the option of changing suppliers in China at any time, while maintaining the same design for their batteries. Thus, a battery produced in 2023 can be fundamentally different from its 2024 version, despite an unchanged appearance.
In conclusion, these batteries are not the first choice of high-tech or performance enthusiasts. However, feedback and user testimonials indicate that they generally have a higher level of safety than cheap batteries sold on Amazon.
Indeed, the importing companies behind these local brands are subject to a certain responsibility, unlike simple online resellers, who are often protected by an opaque corporate structure.
Brands to avoid
Some companies exploit consumers’ lack of information to market low-quality batteries at excessive prices.
Indeed, some brands literally abuse the ignorance of uninformed buyers. For example, a battery sold for $399 CAD on Amazon can be offered in stores, under another brand, at a price ranging from $1,350 to $1,550. A reality unfortunately experienced by many buyers.
Companies using this strategy
At least two companies are known to use this type of practice.
Kilovault (Alte-Store)
Kilovault was one of the first to adopt this approach, selling batteries identical to those in Canbat at a high price. The company finally declared bankruptcy in 2024.
HubLion
In Canada, HubLion is regularly criticized for similar practices. There have been many testimonials on various Facebook groups of cases where consumers have been wronged after trusting their RV (recreational vehicle) retailer, who sold them HubLion batteries.
The problem becomes obvious when these batteries start malfunctioning. Consumers, in search of a solution, often consult a specialized centre, such as Boréal Campeur, TSI, Volts Énergies or Batteries Énergie-Tech, where they discover not only that their battery is defective, but also that they have paid for it well beyond its real value.
On average, HubLion full-size batteries are sold for around $1,350, while they are manufactured by Shenzhen Neata, a Chinese company that specializes in low-cost products.
Shenzhen Neata’s questionable practices
According to social audit reports available from the company Intertek, Shenzhen Neata has several serious shortcomings:
- Employment of minors
- Failure to comply with the minimum number of days of leave required by law
- Unhealthy working conditions
- Lack of minimum social security coverage required by the government
- Provision of False UL Safety Certifications
Shenzhen Neata is representative of Chinese manufacturers operating in remote areas. The company specializes in the production of low-cost batteries, similar to those marketed under brands such as Eco-Worthy and Redodo.
In the same vein, here is a striking example that illustrates this problem.
A Kings 12V 120Ah battery, manufactured by Shenzhen Neata, retails for $400 CAD.
However, the same product, labelled under a different brand, can be offered at a much higher price in other distribution channels.
Still manufactured by Neata and identical in every way to the KINGS battery, but this time sold at a much higher price, a HubLion 12V 120Ah battery sold online on the Canadian market.
The batteries are strictly identical and manufactured by the same Chinese company; only the labelling differs.
When it comes to guarantees, each importer has its own policies.
Main cons:
- Fraudulent ETL Certification
- 30% higher than a patented, UL 1973 certified battery like Battleborn’s
- Lower performance than the competition, despite a higher price
Fraudulent certifications
Some small Chinese companies located in remote areas unfortunately adopt illegal and unsafe practices to obtain product certifications.
Why are these certifications important?
Certified batteries are often required for assurance, safety, and compliance reasons.
For example, manufacturers of recreational vehicles (RVs) and boats typically require certified lithium batteries to integrate into their systems.
Brands recognized for their reliability
It is this certification requirement that explains the popularity of certain companies such as:
These brands manufacture certified lithium batteries and hold patents for proprietary technologies, thus guaranteeing a level of quality and safety superior to the competition.
Fraudulent certifications at certain brands
Some companies, such as HubPower, which markets batteries under the HubLion brand, have been linked to fraudulent certifications.
In some cases, this situation is not the result of malicious intent on the part of local distributors, but rather of initiatives taken by the Chinese manufacturers themselves. The objective is to market a product presented as certified, without having incurred the necessary costs to ensure true compliance with the standards in force.
Some images of the inside of a self-heating 12V 100Ah HubLion battery (group 24).
Below is the certification report issued by Intertek. Comparing it to the internals of an open battery per buyer, it is clear that the items differ from those submitted by Shenzhen Neata for certification.
This discrepancy constitutes an illegal practice and automatically invalidates the approval allegedly obtained for all batteries in circulation.
Differences observed in the photos:
- Assembly method
- Cell Model
- Battery Management System (BMS)
Regarding the cells, the certification report indicates the use of GFB 3.2V 100Ah cells (Ganfeng). However, in the battery opened by the buyer, Guoxan 3.2V 105Ah cells were identified.
What you need to remember
In this article, you have discovered the secrets of lithium battery manufacturing as well as the strategies employed by certain brands, including labeling.
You’ve also learned that the cheapest batteries on the market are often the most volatile and dangerous. Those sold directly by Chinese brands on platforms such as Amazon are a striking example.
Among them, several have already disappeared, including Relibatt, AmpereTime, Kilovault and Tundra (ecoSolaris).
Choose recognized brands
For many consumers, it is better to invest more in the purchase in order to benefit from batteries that are recognized for their safety, reliability, repairability and certifications.
Here are some examples of companies recognized for their reliability and quality:
Battleborn (by Dragonfly)
- Reference in the field with 55 patents filed
- Features proprietary molds and UL 1973 certifications
- Please note : these batteries are not repairable
Lithionics
- Holds two patents : one on the management of the charge and discharge contactors, the other on the cooling system.
- Some products are UL 1973 certified.
- Warning: although repairable, the repair and transport costs are high, which is the subject of much criticism on social networks.
Volthium
- Holds a patent on charge management and offers more than a dozen exclusive advanced features, such as battery preheating
- Recognized for their high-quality service in French and English
- Their innovations are made possible by proprietary molds and a unique communication architecture. Their batteries are easily repairable for a low cost
- Several models are UL certified by CSA and Intertek
Relion
- Pioneer of LFP batteries, with exclusive proprietary molds on certain models.
Conclusion
To ensure optimal performance and increased safety, it is essential to favor recognized brands. If you want to invest in a quality product, take the time to do your research to avoid paying an excessive price for batteries that are neither certified nor safe.
If you’re on a budget, but safety is still an essential part of your decision-making, you should know that LFP lithium batteries have an estimated laboratory life of more than 20 years. So, a used battery or a demo model can be a great alternative.
Don’t hesitate to discuss this with your retailer!
