The shipping companies are refusing to ship any Li-Ion Battery. The problem with the batteries we use in our APVs is that they are not easily bought from supermarkets etc.
First of all, why did the manufacturers use 3.7v non-standard size Li-Ion batteries for APVs? They could've easily designed their circuitry around the operating voltage for NiMH or NiCd rechargeable. 3.7v Li-Ion 18350, 18650, 14500 are extremely limited in availability. In my country, the only way to source these batteries are online and the shipping ban makes the experience stressful on top of the already stressful experience of buying electronic cigarettes online and shipping them here where it is already banned.
Since my current stock of batteries are going down rapidly and my order from Singapore (the only place I can purchase batteries online at the moment) will take a month to reach me, I started thinking of a temporary solution that can keep me vaping until I sort out the battery shortage issue. I looked everywhere for 3.7v batteries and the only ones available locally and practically everywhere are Cell Phone batteries. Almost all cell phone batteries operate at 3.7v and are the same Li-Ion compound used in the 18650s etc. Some are Li-Polymer but apart from the mAh boost, they are practically the same.
So I went to a phone shop and got me a couple of these Nokia Batteries:

They are extremely cheap if you get the non-original sort. Took out the soldering iron and soldered the male on these JST Connectors

on the batteries and female on a spare single Li-Ion battery charger for 18650, 18350, etc. which came free at one purchase I made.

And there you have it a 3.7v Li-Ion battery stocked practically everywhere (including supermarkets) and cheap (I got them for $10 a piece).
I had a SmokTech VMax with a broken button lying around so I stuck it to a project box, soldered two female JST connectors in serial (stacked) to the +ve and GND and I am enjoying a full day per charge on these Nokia Batteries!
First of all, why did the manufacturers use 3.7v non-standard size Li-Ion batteries for APVs? They could've easily designed their circuitry around the operating voltage for NiMH or NiCd rechargeable. 3.7v Li-Ion 18350, 18650, 14500 are extremely limited in availability. In my country, the only way to source these batteries are online and the shipping ban makes the experience stressful on top of the already stressful experience of buying electronic cigarettes online and shipping them here where it is already banned.
Since my current stock of batteries are going down rapidly and my order from Singapore (the only place I can purchase batteries online at the moment) will take a month to reach me, I started thinking of a temporary solution that can keep me vaping until I sort out the battery shortage issue. I looked everywhere for 3.7v batteries and the only ones available locally and practically everywhere are Cell Phone batteries. Almost all cell phone batteries operate at 3.7v and are the same Li-Ion compound used in the 18650s etc. Some are Li-Polymer but apart from the mAh boost, they are practically the same.
So I went to a phone shop and got me a couple of these Nokia Batteries:

They are extremely cheap if you get the non-original sort. Took out the soldering iron and soldered the male on these JST Connectors

on the batteries and female on a spare single Li-Ion battery charger for 18650, 18350, etc. which came free at one purchase I made.

And there you have it a 3.7v Li-Ion battery stocked practically everywhere (including supermarkets) and cheap (I got them for $10 a piece).
I had a SmokTech VMax with a broken button lying around so I stuck it to a project box, soldered two female JST connectors in serial (stacked) to the +ve and GND and I am enjoying a full day per charge on these Nokia Batteries!