Batteries
RC car battery types explained
Four numbers on a label and three different chemistries. Here is what each one means, and which parts of it you actually need to care about.
By Ryder M. · Published September 27, 2026 · Last reviewed
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There are only two battery types that matter for RC cars: LiPo and NiMH. LiPo is lighter, faster and needs a proper charger. NiMH is heavier, slower and tolerates almost any mistake. Everything else you will see on a listing is a variation on one of those two.
The types, in one table
| Type | What it is | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| LiPo | Lithium polymer — the performance standard | Most hobby-grade cars from about $150 up |
| NiMH | Nickel-metal hydride — the forgiving older standard | Entry hobby-grade cars, and anything aimed at families |
| LiHV | A LiPo variant charged to a slightly higher voltage | Racing and some drone packs; rare in RC cars |
| Li-ion | The cell type in laptops and power tools | Some budget cars; long run time, less punch |
| Built-in packs | A sealed rechargeable pack, no replacement | Toy-grade cars for young children |
| AA cells | Ordinary batteries | Transmitters, and the cheapest toy cars |
Reading the label
A LiPo label typically reads something like *5000mAh 2S 50C*. Three numbers, in order of how much they matter:
- mAh — capacity. How long it runs. 5000mAh runs roughly twice as long as 2500mAh in the same car. This is the number that decides your afternoon.
- S — cell count, so voltage. 2S is about 7.4V, 3S about 11.1V. More cells means more speed, and it must be within the range the car's speed control supports.
- C — discharge rate. How hard the pack can be pushed. For bashing, anything from 25C upward from a decent brand is plenty. It is the number most over-marketed and least worth paying extra for.
Three batteries worth knowing
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Gens Ace 2S LiPo batteryThe brand most people settle on once they have been burned by a cheap pack that puffed after a month. | The reliable default | 8.7 | $49.99View on Amazon #ad — how we earn · price as of November 12, 2026 |
| 2 |  Traxxas Power Cell NiMH batterySlower and heavier than LiPo, and far more forgiving of the mistakes a first-time owner makes. | Families new to this | 8.3 | $40.68View on Amazon #ad — how we earn · price as of November 12, 2026 |
| 3 |  Ovonic 2S LiPo batteryThe sensible middle: better built than the bargain packs, cheaper than the premium ones. | Middle ground | 8.4 |
Product photo via Amazon.
#1 · The reliable default
Gens Ace 2S LiPo battery
The brand most people settle on once they have been burned by a cheap pack that puffed after a month.
8.7/10our score for this use
LiPo is the standard rechargeable battery chemistry for RC cars: lighter than the older NiMH type and it holds its power right up to the end of the run rather than gradually fading. 2S means two cells — the size most 1/10 cars take.
What it does well
- Consistent pack-to-pack quality, which is the whole argument for paying more for a battery
- Holds voltage under load, so the car feels the same on lap ten as on lap one
- Sold in all the common connector types and sizes
What it does badly
- Costs more than the budget brands for capacity you can measure but may not notice
- Like all LiPo packs it must be stored at partial charge, not full, or it degrades
- Needs a balance charger — it cannot be charged with the wall plug from a toy car
#ad — how we earn · price as of November 12, 2026
Product photo via Amazon.
#2 · Families new to this
Traxxas Power Cell NiMH battery
Slower and heavier than LiPo, and far more forgiving of the mistakes a first-time owner makes.
8.3/10our score for this use
NiMH is the older rechargeable chemistry. It gives less punch and less run time than LiPo, but it tolerates being left on a shelf half-charged, being fully drained, and being charged on a simple charger — all things that shorten a LiPo's life.
What it does well
- Far more tolerant of neglect than LiPo, which suits a household new to the hobby
- Can be charged with the simple charger that comes with many Traxxas cars
- Works with Traxxas' iD system, which sets the charger up automatically
What it does badly
- Heavier and slower than a LiPo of the same capacity — the car feels duller
- Shorter run time for the same size pack
- Most people replace it with a LiPo within a few months anyway
Specifications from Traxxas' batteries and chargers range.
#ad — how we earn · price as of November 12, 2026
Product photo via Amazon.
#3 · Middle ground
Ovonic 2S LiPo battery
The sensible middle: better built than the bargain packs, cheaper than the premium ones.
8.4/10our score for this use
A mid-priced LiPo brand that has built a reputation for reliability without the premium price. For a car that gets used on weekends rather than raced, this is the tier that makes sense.
What it does well
- Noticeably better built than the cheapest packs on the shelf
- Widely available in the common sizes and connectors
- Good value if you want two packs instead of one premium pack
What it does badly
- Not the last word in performance if the car is being raced
- Quality is consistent but not at the level of the top-tier brands
- Still requires a proper balance charger
Which battery for which car
| Car | Battery | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Toy-grade car for a young child | Built-in pack or AAs | Buy rechargeable AAs for the transmitter — a flat transmitter is the most common fault |
| Entry hobby-grade (1/18, 1/16) | NiMH or small 2S LiPo | Check the car's stated range first |
| 1/10 brushed truck | 2S LiPo or 6-7 cell NiMH | Traxxas lists exactly this range for the Slash 4X4 |
| 1/10 brushless truck | 2S or 3S LiPo | Start on 2S for a younger driver |
| 1/8 or 6S machine | 4S-6S LiPo | Expert territory; the batteries are a significant cost in themselves |
The connector question
Batteries and cars use different plugs, and they are not universal — a battery with the wrong connector will not fit. That has its own page, because it is the single most common ordering mistake: RC car battery connector types.
The number that trips people up most on these labels is the S figure. 2S vs 3S LiPo covers what the extra cell does to speed, heat and run time, and how to find out which your car accepts.
How we picked
The battery recommendations above are based on manufacturers' published specifications and on which chemistry suits which owner. We do not test batteries — our methodology page explains what our recommendations rest on.
Two numbers on the label cause more confusion than the chemistry does. What does the C rating mean works through the discharge figure and why it is usually irrelevant, and the best 2S LiPo batteries covers choosing a pack on the numbers that do matter.