No, the stock ESC and motors in the Villain can run 7 cells already. The ESC may not be able to handle 19 turn motors though. Be careful with putting hotter motors in the boat. It's not made for speed, and becomes very twitchy and borderline uncontrollable over 30MPH. I've had a friend sink his twice because of this, and it ruined a $175 ESC the first dunk. The vee hull is made to go slower, ride lower in the water, and cut through waves, it's not made to ride high in the water.