The reason I don’t see higher discharge rate as a plus is because people have been using the wrong 18650 cell all along for the sake of saving $20-30.
You are talking about using Lipos that can discharge at 200A continuous to discharge on average 20A and peak 100A. A 10S4P 30Q pack can do up to 60A continuous with very little sag and up to 120A burst.
I can buy these cells for a total of $180. Plus other materials maybe $50
A total of $230 and my time for a 10S4P that kills any LiPo pack In the $100 range maybe even in the $200 range just because you will not be needing the extra discharge ability and capacity on Lipos still sucks plus now youre carrying a massive brick under you.
My girlfriends build cost a total of $650 with a 10S4P Li-ion pack bms and charger, the pack is the one in the picture above.
-Lipos have less voltage sag. True but voltage sag is not an issue with the appropriate cells. For example here is the discharge curve for 25R cells which are the standard vs 30Q cells:
Top curve is 0.2A, second is 5A and third is 10A
In a 4P pack, this would correspond to 0.8A (close enough to no load), 20A, and 40A. As you can see, the 30Q cell has less sag at 10A than the 25R does at 5A! In fact, after 50% capacity the 30Q has the same voltage sag at 15A than the 25R at 5A. That means that you see the same voltage sag when pulling 20A on a 10S4P 25R pack than you do pulling 60A on the 30Q pack! That is laughable.
-Lipos have more power/dollar, True but again that is per dollar.
-Lipos are easier to install than building your own pack. Not if you use single cells… Using 18650 is the equivalent of using single cells. You can buy an assembled pack that is just as easy to use. Once again it comes down to cost being the difference. LiPos have a way bigger market than 18650 cells and therefore there are made in massive amounts in all kinds of sizes, while 18650 packs are not used widely so finding assembled packs is more costly.
-You always know the health by balance charging. How is this a pro for Lipos? I can also balance charge Liions/Lipos/Lifepos/nimh. Nothing to do with the battery chemistry itself.
It all comes down to the dollar signs… which is admittedly a large factor. Large enough that people do choose to go that route.
Performance wise, there is absolutely no reason to go there though. If you did then your system was designed with the wrong cell with all respect to you.
I think @radium nailed it with the one on one comparison. Performance wise, from what he described 30Q pack is the winner. Once you take cost into account, not too sure.