Own electric bikes or electric scooters (under 750 watts only)? If so, how many miles (kilometers) did you get out of a set of batteries before you had to buy replacements? Also, what TYPE (sealed lead acid, NiMH, Lithium Ion) was it?
One electric bicycle retailer claims that ebike owners get 3 years from a battery pack. Is this true? I've heard from two large electric motorcycle (60V) owners who alleged that they got only 600 kms. use out of their batteries.
Also, has anybody rejuvenated their electric bike or scooter batteries, like this electric pickup truck? (link below)
http://vancouver-face-painter.blogspot.c... I have had and worked on quite a few ebikes, and can tell you that when it comes to SLA packs, the use, care and charger have a lot to do with lifetime.
If you understand SLA's, treat them well, use a good charger, and dont discharge to deeply, you may get 700 plus trips. most "trips" 5- 10 miles.
However, if you discharge them till almost dead, leave them discharged in a hot garage, use a cheap charger that under or over charges, you may find that you get only 150 charges.
It also depends on whether you purchased quality fresh batteries.
I am now using NIMH and have for about 2 years. None of my batteries or my users have had One Failure. Key here is to keep your NIMH packs from getting hot. Use a cheap remote read digital thermometer from Xmart.
Keep the temp below 110F. Packs want to heat up during heavy loads, during charging, or on summer days in black insulated enclosures.
Do what ever it takes to keep the pack from getting too hot- ventilation, wet paper towels, sheilding from the sun, fans, etc. you will get LOTS of extra cycles out of them. If a NIMH cells goes bad, a good tech can swap one out of most packs.
I am not yet using any Lithium packs, waiting for prices to go down and safety to go up. Should be soon on Lith Iron Phosphate. (A123)
There have been very good reports of the Vancouver SLA rejuvination program, but I am not familiar with the details. I have a Giant Lafree Sport and it is a 24 volt lead-acid battery.
I have about a year and a half on the batteries.
I have been riding a regular bike more lately, because the range was only about 14 miles. I can go 20 miles on a non-electric bike.
I have to give the e-bike credit- It's like having a tandem with a cycling coach in the back seat. The lafree e-bike taught me to pace myself, as the motor cuts out at 20 mph, I learned how not to waste my energy pushing against wind-resistance. |
