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Views: 26 Author: Lilon Publish Time: 2026-11-10 Origin: Site
Quick answer: 36V battery → 42V charger. 48V → 54.6V. 52V → 58.8V. 60V → 67.2V. 72V → 84V. 24V → 29.4V. Full chart and charge times below.
Almost every "which charger do I need" question comes down to one number that is written in two different ways. A pack is sold as a 36V battery; its charger says 42V. Both are correct — one is nominal, the other is the full-charge voltage.
This page is the reference: voltage conversions, charge times, and the three mistakes that account for most wrong-charger purchases.
A lithium-ion cell runs at 3.6V nominal and charges to 4.2V. Put cells in series and both numbers multiply:
Pack described as | Cells in series | Nominal voltage | Full charge | Charger label |
12V | 3S | 11.1V | 12.6V | 12.6V |
24V | 7S | 25.2V | 29.4V | 29.4V |
36V | 10S | 36.0V | 42.0V | 42V |
48V | 13S | 46.8V | 54.6V | 54.6V |
52V | 14S | 50.4V | 58.8V | 58.8V |
60V | 16S | 57.6V | 67.2V | 67.2V |
72V | 20S | 72.0V | 84.0V | 84V |
Two things this table settles immediately:
· A "36V" e-bike uses a 42V charger. Searching for a "36V charger" finds the wrong product. Our 42V 2A lithium charger is the common size for this class.
· "48V" can mean 13S lithium (54.6V charger) or four 12V lead-acid blocks (a very different charge profile). The voltage label alone does not tell you which.
Lead-acid packs are built from 12V blocks, and their charging numbers land close to lithium numbers:
Lead-acid pack | Typical finish voltage |
12V (1 block) | ~14.4V |
24V (2 blocks) | ~28.8–29.4V |
36V (3 blocks) | ~43–44V |
48V (4 blocks) | ~57.6–58.8V |
Look at the 24V row and the 7S lithium row together: both sit near 29–29.4V. That is why the labels look interchangeable and why they are not — a lead-acid charger includes a float stage that keeps pushing current after full charge, which a lithium pack should never receive. If you are converting a vehicle from lead-acid to lithium, the old charger has to go.
Charger output is written two ways — as current (2A) or as power (84W) — and they describe the same thing at a given voltage:
Charger | Voltage | Current | Power | Typical use |
29.4V 2A | 29.4V | 2A | 58.8W | 24V class, small packs |
29.4V 3A | 29.4V | 3A | 88.2W | Wheelchairs, mobility scooters |
42V 2A | 42V | 2A | 84W | 36V e-bikes (most common) |
42V 4A | 42V | 4A | 168W | 36V, faster charging |
54.6V 2A | 54.6V | 2A | 109.2W | 48V commuter e-bikes |
67.2V 4A | 67.2V | 4A | 268.8W | 60V scooters |
84V 2A | 84V | 2A | 168W | 72V scooters |
If a listing says "168W charger", divide by the charge voltage to get the current: 168 ÷ 42 = 4A, or 168 ÷ 84 = 2A. Same wattage, two very different products. See the 168W e-bike charger for a practical example.
Charge time is capacity divided by current, plus a correction for the taper at the end of a lithium charge:
hours ≈ (Ah ÷ A) × 1.15
Pack capacity | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A |
10Ah | ~5.8 h | ~3.8 h | ~2.9 h | ~2.3 h |
15Ah | ~8.6 h | ~5.8 h | ~4.3 h | ~3.5 h |
20Ah | ~11.5 h | ~7.7 h | ~5.8 h | ~4.6 h |
30Ah | ~17.3 h | ~11.5 h | ~8.6 h | ~6.9 h |
Two notes on reading this table:
· The multiplier is not padding. The last part of a lithium charge is delivered at falling current, so the arithmetic answer (Ah ÷ A) is optimistic by roughly 10–20%.
· Real chargers turn green before the pack is full. If your range after "full" is short, check the pack, not the light.
Only up to the pack's limit, which is stated as a C-rate:
Pack | 0.2C | 0.3C | 0.5C |
10Ah | 2A | 3A | 5A |
15Ah | 3A | 4.5A | 7.5A |
20Ah | 4A | 6A | 10A |
stay within the pack's limit (often 0.3C: 3A for a 10Ah pack). Charging above the rated C-rate shortens cycle life rather than failing immediately, which is why the damage is easy to miss. The charge port and wiring on the vehicle have their own rating — a 2A port runs hot at 5A even when the pack would accept it. For a 48V 13S example, see the 54.6V 2A charger.
1. Reading the pack voltage as the charger voltage. A 36V battery needs a 42V charger. Sellers list both; buyers search one.
2. Matching the voltage but not the chemistry. 29.4V exists on both sides of the lithium / lead-acid line. Match the profile, not the number.
3. Matching the charger but not the connector. The plug is where most orders actually fail — barrel diameter, pin assignment on XLR, or a moulded proprietary connector. A charger that fits loosely heats up at the port; one with reversed polarity can destroy the BMS on the first connection. Connector families are covered in our connector selection guide.
Application | Typical pack | Typical charger |
E-bike (36V) | 10S, 36V | 42V 2A |
E-bike (48V) | 13S, 48V | 54.6V 2A |
E-scooter (60V) | 16S, 60V | 67.2V 2A–4A |
E-scooter / e-motorcycle (72V) | 20S, 72V | 84V 2A–5A |
Electric wheelchair (24V class) | 7S, 25.2V | |
Golf cart (48V lead-acid) | 4×12V | multi-stage 48V charger |
Is a 42V charger the same as a 36V charger?
Yes, in practice — a 36V lithium pack charges to 42V. Product listings use both labels. What you must not do is use a 42V charger on a 48V pack, or a 54.6V charger on a 36V pack: over-voltage protection may save the pack once, but the pattern damages cells.
Can I charge a 48V battery with a 54.6V charger from another brand?
Electrically the voltage matches, and it will usually charge. The risks are the connector and the current — a charger rated for a 20Ah pack may be too strong for a 10Ah one, and a plug that fits loosely will heat up.
My charger says 29.4V but my battery says 24V. Is it wrong?
No. 24V is the nominal figure, 29.4V is the full-charge voltage of a 7S lithium pack. Verify the chemistry: 29.4V is also close to the finish voltage of a 24V lead-acid charger, and the two profiles are not interchangeable.
How long should a 48V 13Ah e-bike take to charge with a 2A charger?
About 7.5 hours (13 ÷ 2 × 1.15). With a 4A charger, about 3.7 hours.
These tables are free to reproduce, in full or in part, with attribution.
Cite as:
Source: Lilon — Charger Voltage Chart (2026), https://www.liloncharger.com/news.html
Printable one-page version: Charger Voltage & Charge Time Chart — suitable for workshops, dealer counters and training.
Revision log
Date | Change |
2026-11 | First publication: voltage conversion, current/power, charge time, C-rate limits |
Corrections are welcome. If you find an error, tell us and it will be fixed and dated above.
Last updated: November 2026.
Lilon (Shenzhen Liankelilong Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.) manufactures lithium battery chargers from 36W up, for e-bikes, e-scooters, mobility, industrial and medical applications. Custom voltage, connector and cable configurations are available.
