The first point I'd make is that I think this is a bit pedantic. This is the second sentence in that Li-ion life thread:
"The first of them are reaching a year old now, and as previously predicted from laboratory testing, many reaching that are showing around 33% capacity loss, just over 35% in one case I know of. In theory in the worst conditions, the loss could reach 66% in a year."
That's a clear enough warning for anyone, without reading further, and whether it's below expectations or not is irrelevant. Think of it in the context of a 30 miles per gallon car giving at most 20 mpg at one year and possible only 10. That would deter any car buyer, would it not?
Yes, it would - if you can find and read that thread. Which is not the first on the list, but sits among a pile of other debate. And the somewhat brief title 'Li-Ion Battery Life' does not of itself clearly explain the important contents of the thread to someone not already familiar with possible problems with shorter than expected battery life.
With utmost respect to your knowledge and status, can I respectfully suggest you have fallen in to a simple trap - you are not critiquing your writing from the perspective of someone not familiar with your subject. I am paid to write technical material (in a different realm) for a living, and it an issue one has to constantly be aware of in my field. Clarity has to be worked at, and yes, it is a two-way street, but if your aim is to impart helpful knowledge and experience, which I believe IS what you try to do, then you have to make allowances to your audience, I am afraid.
Secondly, you've illustrated my point about the confusion people suffered when faced with this information by this quotation of what I said:
"you stated in your response to 50Cycles that you believe the overall voltage performance and the recharge life of this battery technology is now proving to be below the expectations given"
I've made absolutely no mention of voltage in connection with this subject.
Yes, my mistake, you said current, not voltage. But again, with reference to my previous point, whereas you are clearly well trained and experienced in the detailed physics and associated terms of electric motors, most of us are not. It is a simple mistake to make. But the wider and more important point is that the expected electrical characteristics of these batteries have not been as stated by the manufacturers, and THAT is what people need to know to make a purchasing decision, not the specific physics of the fault.
As a further illustration, I feel that in your six months in here you cannot have avoided seeing mention of these battery problems given the high frequency of the mentions. In that time I've posted nearly 2000 times at a rate of over ten posts a day, and a high proportion of those have been on the battery performance and life subjects. It's more likely to be the weight of information causing a problem, as it does for so many.
Well, I am a little miffed now. Your statement implies I am being dishonest or disingenuous when I say that.
Let me be crystal clear that I am not.
I requested and received advice from you and others before buying my bike. At no time did you or anyone else say to me to be sure to buy a NiMH battery and charger, because Li Ion was suspect. The FAQs I read at the time were circumspect on the issue. If that information is now different, what is the harm in blatantly stating it? I have already said I have no personal beef about it.
And yes, I admit, in six months I have not read every post on here, because of that very volume of messages you mention. So I tend to skim and get involved with the threads I fell I can comment and contribute on. And by that, I have missed the Li Ion battery issue. As I said previously, I am not concerned for myself over this - I can accept that the world isn't perfect. But poor old aroncox sounded pretty despondent about it, and it is in my nature to think that if that situation could be avoided for even one other person, it is worthing making some effort to do so, by publicising the problem a little more clearly.
Frankly, I fail to understand why all of you are being so defensive about this. You clearly believe these batteries are not good news for the consumer. I am not arguing that point, just saying it should be better promoted! Yet you all seem unwilling to say anything about it except in individual responses in this little corner of the Internet. I did not think the Pedelec community on here was so cliquey.
So here's what I propose. I am happy to write something up in plain terms that hopefully the average joe can understand, and pass it by you and whoever else you deem appropriate to make sure it is factually correct. I will then take it on myself to promote it to AtoB, the moderator of this forum and anywhere else you think it might do some good. I am a strong believer in that if you want something to be done, do it yourself, so I'll put my money where my mouth is.
Fair enough?
