Cheapest/Best Value Way to convert an Oxygen eMate to 48V

[Warwick]

My eMate's battery is 2.5 years old and really doesn't like the cold weather. I've charged it a few hundred times and it has had some frankenstein surgery over the time I've had it. Maybe it's time for an upgrade.

I've seen a link to the BMS site where it's going to cost about £350 for the entire 48V set up, including shipping (but excluding any import charges - how much would those be?).

Is there any way I can get a better value set up without having to import?

TIA

 

[Woosh]

I would start a 48V kit on another bike. Typically, the SWX02 motor for 25mph on 27.5" wheels has winding code 13. If you run it at 48V, you will either get lower torque at the same speed or 30% more current draw. Neither is a better outcome than your current 36V setup. The 48V SWX02 kit I do has wiring code 16, letting you keep the speed but increasing the torque by 30%, thus making the bike much more flexible with power delivery and more enjoyable to ride.
Note for those who are interested in winding codes: just imagine a motor with winding code 13 has 13 copper turns on each pole, a winding code 16 with 16 turns on each pole.
More turns mean more torque but at the same speed. You pay a little more though for motors with more turns.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You need a controller, display and battery. The Oxygen uses a harness to the handlebars, so you need a throttle too to get the cable, and the PAS is a bit weird too, so probably better to get one as well. You can get the complete controller set from PSWPower.com, then the battery from anywhere. £350 sounds reasonable.

 

[Warwick]

Any thoughts on this kit? https://bmsbattery.com/ebike-battery/784-48v116ah-case-08-bottle-panasonic-battery-pack-battery.html

Alternatively, can you point me to a suitable controller kit from PSWP, please? I am clueless as to what I need!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That looks OK, but the bottle fixing screw positions are quite high up on that battery, so you need to check where your are on the bike. You might have to install one or two new rivnuts to get the right position. That's why I prefer these batteries:
https://bmsbattery.com/ebike-battery/680-48v116ah-bottle-09-panasonic-battery-pack-battery.html

PSWPower controller:
http://www.pswpower.com/peng/pic.asp?ModID=PicS224&TypID=S220052

 

[Woosh]

Any thoughts on this kit? https://bmsbattery.com/ebike-battery/784-48v116ah-case-08-bottle-panasonic-battery-pack-battery.html

Alternatively, can you point me to a suitable controller kit from PSWP, please? I am clueless as to what I need!

there is nothing wrong with that kit. I got one myself.
As with all HL batteries, you will need to add a couple of M5 rivnuts to secure properly the battery cradle to the downtube.
As I said in my earlier post, your problem with upgrading the Oxygen to 48V is the motor wheel which is already optimized to run at 36V besides where to mount the HL battery.

 

[chonka]

there is nothing wrong with that kit. I got one myself.
As with all HL batteries, you will need to add a couple of M5 rivnuts to secure properly the battery cradle to the downtube.
As I said in my earlier post, your problem with upgrading the Oxygen to 48V is the motor wheel which is already optimized to run at 36V besides where to mount the HL battery.

 

[chonka]

My oxygen emate city motor is faulty and syeb (oxygen dealer) no longer stock spairs. As i need more power to help me uphill due to failing health i have decided to upgrade to 500w, keeping my 36v battery. After much internet research, it appears that a mid drive motor would power me uphill better than a hub motor even the 500w version. I find all the different kits and combinations very confusing. However i have decided on a bafang bbs02b 500w mid drive. I am aware that these are not uk legal. Does anyone know if this will fit my emate city? I am concerned about the plate welded on the bottom of the bottom bracket which hides the wires and the bafang wont fit flush to the bottom bar. Can this plate be cut off without compromosing the frames strenth. If not maybe hammered flush to the frame.
Thankyou.

 

[Nealh]

Yes, that additional plate will stop the bbs from sliding on, frame strength should be unaffected as long as the main frame isn't cut in to if it is removed.

The bbs02 is 18a so may be more load then your existing controllers demand, depending on your battery cell specs and age the extra load may affect it's performance.

 

[Nealh]

What is at fault with the hub motor as it may be repairable.

 

[wheeliepete]

That plate looks like it is providing additional strength to the frame tube/bottom bracket joint to allow for the cable routing through the frame. Check under the bracket the size of the unwelded area where the cables exit. You may find the whole underside of the frame tube is not welded to the BB, in which case it is not safe to remove it without additional welding.

 

[chonka]

That plate looks like it is providing additional strength to the frame tube/bottom bracket joint to allow for the cable routing through the frame. Check under the bracket the size of the unwelded area where the cables exit. You may find the whole underside of the frame tube is not welded to the BB, in which case it is not safe to remove it without additional welding.

I have shelved plans of upgrading my oxygen emate city and took the advice of many and started again. I have bought a carrera vengeance off ebay and fitted with a bbs01 extra torque model with 17.5ah battery. It is a vast improvement and has achieved my aim of improved hill climbing and a great all round improved performance.

 

[wheeliepete]

Nice bike Chonka, I think you made the right choice with a new build, sometimes rebuilds just don't prove cost effective, esp. when your bike dosn't suit your plan.

 

[sparkysx]

I’m about to order this kit from Darren, what’s it like? Don’t know whether to get the 17.5 or 14ah battery, what’s it like on hill climbing and on the flat?

Cheers

 

[chonka]

I’m about to order this kit from Darren, what’s it like? Don’t know whether to get the 17.5 or 14ah battery, what’s it like on hill climbing and on the flat?

Cheers

I would thoroughly recommend this kit from Darren. Both hill climbing and flat use are very good.I was about to order the 500w bbs02 from em3ev, but i understand the bbs01etm has similar spec and meant i didnt need to order from China.Also it meant i was street legal at 250w. It was a little more expensive but worth the peace of mind that i had UK support from Darren, although em3ev were brilliant in answering my many queries, but better to have someone available at the end of a phone rather than email. I ordered the 17.5ah battery as i needed quite a bit of assistance/range and my current 15ah battery on my oxygen emate city wouldnt get me around my 23 mile round trip in the peak district and i struggled with hills. This 17.5 ah battery only just gets me around my round trip so if i was ordering again, i would look for a 20ah battery to give me the range needed. I use the throttle regularity on set offs and to give my legs a rest on long flat runs. This use of throttle eats up the battery rapidly, so i would base your chioce of battery on how much you will be using the throttle along with your range and how much assistance you need and hill use. My set up has 9 levels of assist and up to now, although early days, have been using generally on level 6 and moving up to 8 or 9 in lowest gear for hills. I am around 13 stone.
I you buy the kit, i would definitely recommend fitting the gear sensor for which there is a dedicated input on the motor. It makes gear changing really smooth as it momentarily cuts the power on gear change.
Hope this helps.
John.

 

[sparkysx]

I'm just under 12 stone and won't be using it for any long trips. Darren has sugessted I'd be better off with the 14ah for that reason. What's it like with throttle only, how quick have you had it on throttle and what's it like with throttle up hills? I'm quite physically so wouldn't be using throttle only up hills, but was curious if it has the torque for that?

cheers!

 

[chonka]

I'm just under 12 stone and won't be using it for any long trips. Darren has sugessted I'd be better off with the 14ah for that reason. What's it like with throttle only, how quick have you had it on throttle and what's it like with throttle up hills? I'm quite physically so wouldn't be using throttle only up hills, but was curious if it has the torque for that?

cheers!

The throttle and pas cuts out at the legal 15mph. However the pas can be altered in the lcd settings by the user to up to 30mph and the throttle responds by upping its cut off speed to around 18mph. The kit comes set with the legal settings to cover the vendor.

I'm just under 12 stone and won't be using it for any long trips. Darren has sugessted I'd be better off with the 14ah for that reason. What's it like with throttle only, how quick have you had it on throttle and what's it like with throttle up hills? I'm quite physically so wouldn't be using throttle only up hills, but was curious if it has the torque for that? I have tested it uphill on throttle only and its seems torquey enuf in the lowest gear. However i wont be using it on hill climbs on throttle only to protect the controller. Sounds like 14ah battery will be ample for your usage.

cheers!

The throttle and pas are set for the legal limit of 15.5mph but the pas can be adjusted upwards in the user settings on the lcd.