Can you turn 45 disposable vapes into a working battery for an electric scooter? I decided to find out!

In this DIY project, I recycled old disposable vape pens and salvaged their lithium-ion cells to build a custom battery pack for my scooter. Instead of throwing away all those batteries, I gave them a second life!

🔧 What’s inside this project?

• 🔋 Disassembling 45 disposable vapes and recovering lithium-ion cells.
• ⚡ Testing and checking the recovered 400mAh cells.
• 🔩 Spot welding the cells together to create a battery pack.
• 🛡️ Installing a 40A 3S BMS for battery management.
• 🖨️ Designing and 3D printing a custom battery enclosure.
• 📟 Adding a voltage display to monitor battery status.
• 🛵 Testing the finished battery in a motor scooter.

📦 Parts & Tools Used:

• 45x 400mAh lithium-ion cells (recovered from disposable vapes)
• 40A 3S BMS
• Nickel strips
• Spot welder
• 3D printer and custom-designed enclosure
• Voltage display module

♻️ Why this project?

Disposable vapes contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that often end up as electronic waste. This project explores creative ways to reuse recovered components and reduce unnecessary waste.

⚠️ Safety Warning: Lithium-ion battery projects can be dangerous. Damaged, mismatched, or improperly connected cells can cause short circuits, overheating, or fire. Never assume recovered cells are safe just because they appear undamaged. Proper testing, cell matching, insulation, protection, and charging systems are essential. This project is for educational purposes.