2 years ago I bought a bicycle from Elation which has the assistance of an electric motor. It uses NiMH batteries 36V 10 Ahrs to power a 200Watt motor . The batteries can no longer hold a charge,they are useless. So I have to buy new batteries unless someone knows of a magic trick to enable them to be made good again.
I am very disappointed in the attitude of the owner of Elation, he said he could not help me to source new NiMH batteries,as he has now switched to LiFePO4 batteries 24V 10ahr. I know technology moves on but I thought there would be some kind of after sales service or at the least some idea of where to get new batteries.
I've got your money. Sorry mate your on your own!!!!
Electric Bikes
(119 posts) (20 voices)-
Posted Monday 8 Jun 2009 @ 6:09:06 am from IP #
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LanceTurner
Key MasterPersonally, I would be looking at the lithium replacements, if they are the lifebatt cells then they would be a great investment. If you want to stick with NiMH then there are numerous suppliers, just make sure you get cells rated for high discharge rates. These cells are expensive if you buy them from Australian suppliers, it is often better to go overseas to places like battery junction, they have 10AH high rate cells at http://www.batteryjunction.com/1dni10rebawi.html
You can also get them from Jaycar Electronics but they are very expensive and I can't vouch for the quality, but if you get yourself a wholesale account with their distribution company, Electus Distribution, you can get them for about half the price when buying quantities. See Jaycar part number SB2462.
Posted Tuesday 9 Jun 2009 @ 4:55:14 am from IP # -
This article on the health benefits of cycling is worth a read.
Life is 15 per cent better on a bike.
Imagine if you could take a pill that "reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease, type-two diabetes, some cancers and a variety of other chronic conditions." There were no nasty side effects, and in fact, your general mood, sense of well being and even your sex life might be improved by taking this pill. Oh, and it can help you lose a few kilos too.
http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2010/11/12//3065081.htm
Posted Sunday 14 Nov 2010 @ 6:07:21 am from IP # -
Now this is an electric bike. Merry Xmas.
Posted Friday 24 Dec 2010 @ 7:02:00 pm from IP # -
After upgrading to a 36V powered ebike I've just finished a short review of it. On my webpage by clicking on my name at the left. Click on the sitemap to go to Electric Bicycles. I have no commercial interest in these btw, only promoting the technology.
Posted Wednesday 4 Jan 2012 @ 1:30:36 am from IP # -
I have just updated my page to show a simple range extender for my electric bike.
http://sites.google.com/site/just2wires/electric-bicycles/ebike-backup-charger
Posted Friday 6 Jan 2012 @ 5:14:02 am from IP # -
Good FAQ on the benefits of ebikes. Pretty much what I have found except for the bit about battery life which is optimistic in my view.
Posted Monday 30 Jan 2012 @ 6:58:22 am from IP # -
Latest online issue of Electric Bikes magazine from the UK has a lot of interesting reviews and info. The range and design of ebikes available over there is quite amazing. They test 7 new bikes plus lots of interesting stuff. Around 1 million ebikes are sold annually in Europe with half to Germany and around a quarter to the Netherlands.
Good article on EU revision of power and throttle use of ebikes on page 42. Likely to be adopted here to maintain consistency internationally I suspect.
Read here.
Posted Friday 2 Mar 2012 @ 4:10:16 am from IP # -
Buzzman
MemberUK limited to 25.5km/hr
Australia limited to 200W and not more than 45km/hr under electric power
Colombia has......no limits..??????
The guy riding that Stealth bike in Bogota would be locked up in Australia, riding as he did....
...and did you cop the guy on the ICE scooter hop off and wheel his machine through a red light, then hop back on and keep going????
LOL - try doing that in Oz, especially with a copper looking on..!!!
Posted Wednesday 7 Mar 2012 @ 6:24:40 am from IP # -
Great story on ABC about a family biking across Europe. One of the kids had an electric bike.
Damon and Fiona and their two young children have just been on a family adventure with a difference. They journeyed across Europe on bicycles over the course of seven months, visiting a total of nine countries.
Posted Wednesday 4 Apr 2012 @ 5:19:51 am from IP # -
AtoB magazine in the UK has gone digital and is now free to download. Good article on the short life of lithium ion batteries which confirms my own long term testing.
"We’ve watched this ‘second generation’ Panasonic battery with great interest, because it was the first to be sold with a two-year battery guarantee, and can more or less be credited with saving the reputation of Li-ion batteries, which have fallen like flies elsewhere.
Also a comprehensive test of the Nissan Leaf EV.
Posted Wednesday 11 Apr 2012 @ 2:20:23 am from IP # -
Following up on the battery life issue with respect to lithium batteries it appears anyone getting over 2 years out of an ebike version is doing well. Considering the price they are charging for them this represents poor value for money. I suspect those giving the long ie 2 year warranties are merely building the price of 2 batteries into the first one.
Not only that but they really need to be handled with kid gloves. Long term testing as per the report by AtoB indicates lithium ion batteries don't last as long as NiMh for example. Maybe that's why the Toyota Prius has stayed with them.
Posted Wednesday 11 Apr 2012 @ 3:59:47 am from IP # -
Buzzman
MemberLithium ion incorporates a couple of different chemistries....
...apparently the Lithium Iron Phosphate are less energy dense than other Li batts, but last longer....however all the tech heads agree they MUST have a properly sorted BMS (Battery Management System) as Li batts are VERY sensitive to 'out of balance' charge and discharge issues....
...which is probably what's happening in the bicycle batteries.
As I understand it they usually aren't a single cell, but are composed of a series of smaller cells that are commonly rated at 3.2VDC, for example 10 in series to get 36VDV.
Not sure about some of the proprietary batteries like the 36V and 48V 'packs' attached to bicycles....but probably the same
But I suspet the other big bogey of all secondary cells - over-discharging or too-fast-discharging is more likely to be the culprit.
Lithium batts can be deeper discharged than lead-acid, but even so, while 'rated' for 85% to 95% discharge capacity, the gurus state categorically that any discharge greater than 70% definitely shortens the battery life.
So as the batts on bicycles probably get punished pretty regularly, their shortened life span is hardly surprising.
Electric motors and batteries do not operate like an ICE motor and a petrol tank, and thus need to be 'managed' differently.
More info here: http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/
Posted Wednesday 11 Apr 2012 @ 8:05:20 am from IP # -
Jeffbloggs
Member+ LiFePo4 batteries aka Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are less likely to explode or catch fire than Lithium ion batteries. Otherwise I agree with you Buzz, batteries need to be managed to maintain performance, EV bicycles are not managed at all, and generally have much to limited battery capacity and therefore performance. The "boost" type functionality in bikes leads to the batteries early demise.
Posted Thursday 12 Apr 2012 @ 7:21:15 am from IP # -
Interesting article on electric bike energy use in real world scenarios.
http://sheldonbrown.com/isvan/Power%20Management%20for%20Lightweight%20Vehicles.pdf
Posted Tuesday 1 May 2012 @ 8:47:13 am from IP # -
New ebike from Audi. Not legal here but shows what is possible.
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/300562,audi-reveals-50mph-electric-bike.aspx
Posted Tuesday 15 May 2012 @ 10:42:49 pm from IP # -
johnmath
MemberTo get back to the original post, this site offers a reasonably lucid description of things: http://www.camlight.com/techinfo/techtips.html
Michaelod, if you can disassemble the original battery packs, it's possible you could get the correct replacement cells to rebuild them. Once upon a time, there were businesses who did this at a reasonable price.
You could check http://www.wagner.net.au/ - they have heaps of replacement batteries and cells.
Or you could take the old battery to a business like Battery World and get a quote on rebuilding it.
Be wary - there are a lot of substandard cheap cells around and you could do some dough, so stick with a reputable business who is going to care if you have a problem...Posted Wednesday 16 May 2012 @ 9:54:19 am from IP # -
Latest issue of AtoB magazine #90 now available for free download. Nissan Leaf gets a bit more discussion but ebikes also tested. Switzerland and Austria to allow power up 600W for ebikes.
Good article on electric buses.
Posted Sunday 24 Jun 2012 @ 9:57:36 pm from IP # -
New ADR for electric bikes allowing 250 Watt motors on bikes built to EU standard 15194.
http://www.cyclingresourcecentre.org.au/post/new_definition_of_pedalecs_in_design_rules
Posted Tuesday 17 Jul 2012 @ 8:25:30 am from IP # -
Looks like the posties are jumping on ebikes at last.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-03/posties-get-e-bikes/4174616?WT.svl=news5
Posted Friday 3 Aug 2012 @ 8:10:03 am from IP # -
A crew from Glow worm electric bicycles is about to commence an epic ebike trip from Cape York to Sydney to test their durability during August - Sept. Any interested ATA members can check out the itinerary/blog here.
Posted Saturday 4 Aug 2012 @ 5:23:24 am from IP # -
The road trip on an electric bike through the Daintree up to Cooktown and beyond is certainly a clear example of what is now possible. And that includes 50kg of baggage.
Maurice is achieving distances up to 100km from the new 20AH lithium batteries under even these tough conditions. Some great photos of the countryside through to Cooktown to view as well.
Posted Wednesday 8 Aug 2012 @ 8:13:21 pm from IP # -
Good article from RideOn magazine this year on Ebikes starting to gain market share. Article includes a review of some of the popular models on the market this year as at March 2012.
http://rideons.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/e-bikes-charge-ahead/
Actually RideOn's series on ebikes is all worth reading. Includes an article about Aust Post ebikes etc. Good reading.
http://rideons.wordpress.com/category/bike-reviews/electric-bikes/
Posted Thursday 9 Aug 2012 @ 3:02:34 am from IP #
