Originally Posted by
dscheidt
Not likely ever. Li-Ion cells, like the18650, are not consumer cells. They have no real use by themselves; only made up into application specific batteries. Batteriesplus sells things to end users, not to people making batteries. If you want battery making parts, buy them from someone who sells battery making parts. Don't be surprised that you can't find one locally, either.
^ This. I've been to the Batteries Plus in Elgin, Illinois. They don't and probably won't carry any individual Li Ion cells. If they do have them, they are specifically manufactured into battery pack replacements for laptops, etc. They don't even carry any chargers for them. They do however have some decent Nimh batteries and chargers and about every kind of specialty battery available. I talked at length with the guys working there. In order for them to carry Li Ion, they have to be licensed and permitted which is very expensive (close to $10K in IL). The foot traffic I've seen at the retail store on 3 visits was less than a Radio Shack store, so it would take a long time to amortize that kind of investment. We don't have the extensive winter night riding community here in Northern Illinois that would support the traffic needed - maybe you guys in Southern states do. Too much cold, wind and snow/ice right now.