Upgrade your ride-on toys!
Upgrade your ride-on toys!
February 25, 2025 5 min read
At some point, you may want to give your kid’s Power Wheels a real speed boost. One of the most popular ways to do that is by swapping in a lithium power tool battery. We've all seen the viral videos where parents make a quick mod, and suddenly their kid is tearing through the neighborhood like a mini Travis Pastrana. Without a doubt, it looks awesome.
But not taking the right precautions can lead to some serious problems. Directly wiring up an 18-20V lithium battery can fry motors, strip gears, cause electronic failures, and, in worst-case scenarios, even start a fire. Definitely not the type of excitement you want!
Don’t worry, though, because there's a safe way to do it using our 18-20V Lithium Soft Start Low Voltage Module, which allows you to unleash more power without turning your kid’s ride-on into a smoldering pile of plastic. We’ll get into how it works in a minute, but first, let’s go over why dropping in a power tool battery and letting it rip isn’t the best idea.
A lot of parents and ride-on enthusiasts just slap a power tool battery onto their kid’s Power Wheels and watch the good times roll. While it might seem like a great idea at first (and look like tons of fun) there’s a problem: Lithium batteries deliver power much faster than the stock sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries these vehicles come with. That sudden jolt puts tremendous stress on the system, eventually burning out motors, melting wires, cracking plastic gears, and causing permanent damage.
Plus, most power tool batteries don’t have built-in low-voltage protection. If they drain too much, they can overheat or even catch fire. So while a simple battery swap might seem like a clever hack for more speed, doing it wrong can quickly turn into a costly or potentially dangerous activity.
Taking these issues into account, we developed our lithium conversion module with two key features to let you safely run power tool batteries in ride-on vehicles. The first is a soft start feature that gradually ramps up the power over a few seconds instead of instantly sending it to the motor. This provides smoother acceleration and lets you reach the same top speeds while putting less strain on the motor, gears, and switches. The wheels will still spin on pavement, but in high-traction areas, the module will limit that initial amperage surge that causes all the damage. And that’s where you’ll notice less wheel spin.
The second feature is a low-voltage cutoff that monitors the battery’s voltage and prevents it from dropping too low, which can ultimately damage the battery. If the voltage falls below a safe level (15.5V), the module first gives you a warning light, then shuts the car down completely if it stays too low (below 15V) for more than a minute. This protects the battery by preventing over-discharge and makes the vehicle safe to operate.
In addition to its core features, the module comes with a built-in cooling fan to avoid overheating, along with a 40-amp self-resetting breaker that helps prevent blown fuses. It also includes an on/off switch that lets you control the flow of power and save battery life when the vehicle isn’t being used. Best of all, it’s really easy to install, with only a few basic tools and no soldering required!
If you’re not a master mechanic, don’t worry–installation for the lithium module is relatively straightforward and should only take about 15-20 minutes. First, you’ll need to cut the Power Wheels connector, leaving about 4 inches of wire. Then, strip a small section of insulation from the wires and connect them to the module; yellow goes to red, and black to black. Next, you’re going to install the 40A breaker between the module and the battery adapter. Once that’s done, press down on the gas pedal to see if the vehicle moves forward. If it does, perfect. But if it goes in reverse, just swap the wires (it’s an easy fix). After the module’s been installed, use screws, double-sided tape, or hot glue to secure it to the vehicle. This prevents it from sliding around while the car is in use. Also, make sure there’s good airflow around the module so it stays cool.
This is where we note that the module works with all 12V Power Wheels modelsexcept those with Smart Drive systems, like the Mustangs, Barbie Dream Camper, and Wild Thing. It also works with Peg Perego, Kid Trax, and other 12V ride-ons.
If you’re pushing your Power Wheels to 18V or higher, the stock motor might not last very long under the added strain. That’s why we recommend swapping it out for our 775 Performance Motors, which are built to handle the extra power and deliver a lot more torque than stock ones. It’s also very important to pick the right battery adapter. With our module, you can choose from Black & Decker, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, or Ryobi. Or, you could go with your own–just make sure it has at least 14-gauge wire. Cheaper adapters with thin wires can overheat, melt, or even catch fire.
Speaking of which, safety is the name of the game, so always use high-quality lithium batteries from trusted brands. Cheap knockoffs can be risky, since you don’t know where they came from or how they were built. Also, remember to unplug the battery whenever the car isn’t in use. The module continuously draws small amounts of power to monitor voltage, and if it’s left plugged in, it can slowly drain the battery.
Lithium batteries are lighter, more powerful, and a good deal more efficient than stock SLA batteries. But they also have lower amp ratings, which means they generally won’t last as long on a single charge. If maximizing the vehicle’s runtime is important, you may just want to stick with SLA batteries…or have a spare lithium battery ready to go.
Upgrading your kid’s ride-on with a power tool battery can ramp up its performance, taking playtime to a whole new level. The key is doing it safely, and that’s what our 18-20V Lithium Soft Start Low Voltage Module is designed for. It prevents power surges and protects motors, gears, and wires from getting overloaded, keeping the fun going and your kid excited about their newly tricked-out ride.
And remember, if you ever need direction or guidance on Power Wheels upgrades, don’t think twice about reaching out to our team at ML Toys. We’re always happy to help.